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16,600 | Clinical Implications of Ventricular Repolarization Parameters on Long-Term Risk of Atrial Fibrillation　- Longitudinal Follow-up Data From a General Ambulatory Korean Population. | This study investigated 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) predictors associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) or flutter (AFL), specifically whether ventricular repolarization abnormalities in surface ECG (i.e., non-specific ST-T abnormalities [NSSTTA], QT prolongation, early repolarization [ER]) were associated with the development of AF or AFL.Methods and Results:This study included 16,793 ambulatory Koreans (mean age 48.2 years, 62.3% male) who underwent medical check-ups at Asan Medical Center in 2002 (NSSTTA, n=1,037 [6.2%]; ER, n=1,493 [8.9%]). The primary outcome was the incidence of ECG-documented AF or AFL. During follow-up, new-onset AF or AFL was documented in 334 subjects (2.0%). The incidence of AF or AFL at the 10-year follow-up was higher in patients with than without NSSTTA (3.5% vs. 1.6%; hazard ratio [HR] 1.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28-2.50). The QT interval was associated with a higher risk of AF or AFL (HR 1.12 [95% CI 1.07-1.17] per 10 ms), and the risk was even higher in patients with multiple-region NSSTTA (HR 2.30; 95% CI 1.64-3.21) and NSSTTA with QT prolongation (HR 4.06; 95% CI 2.14-7.69). ER was not associated with a higher risk of AF or AFL (HR 1.02; 95% CI 0.71-1.46).</AbstractText>NSSTTA and QT prolongation, but not ER, were associated with a higher risk of future AF or AFL in a general ambulatory population after adjusting for parameters of atrial depolarization.</AbstractText> |
16,601 | Role of cardiac sympathetic denervation in ventricular tachycardia: A meta-analysis. | Cardiac sympathetic denervation (CSD) is being used in the management of refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT) and electrical storm. However, data on the role of CSD in the management of ventricular arrhythmia is limited.</AbstractText>We performed a meta-analysis of retrospective studies to calculate the pooled rate of freedom from VT and the standard mean difference of ICD shocks before and after CSD.</AbstractText>14 nonrandomized studies with a total of 311 patients with refractory VT or electrical storm were included. At a mean follow up of 15 ± 10.7 months, the pooled rate of freedom from VT (VT nonrecurrence rate) after CSD in all causes of arrhythmia was 60% (range 48.8% to 70%, I2  </sup> = 43%). When analysis was restricted to only arrhythmias caused by conditions other than catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) and long QT syndrome (LQTS), the pooled VT non-recurrence rate was 50% (range 41% to 58%, I2  </sup> = 5%). After CSD, mean total number of ICD shocks per person diminished by 3.01 (95% CI 1.09-4.94, P = .002, I2</sup>  = 96%) in overall analysis and by 0.97(95% CI 0.41-1.5, P = .001, I2</sup>  = 45%) when CPVT and LQTS were excluded.</AbstractText>In patients with refractory VT or electrical storm, CSD is associated with pooled VT nonrecurrence rate of 60% at a mean follow-up of 15 ± 10.7 months. CSD was also associated with significantly lower mean number ICD shocks per person. Further studies are needed to validate this finding in a prospective setting.</AbstractText>© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,602 | Does the Presence of Significant Mitral Regurgitation prior to Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation for Aortic Stenosis Impact Mortality? - Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review. | Mitral regurgitation (MR) is commonly encountered in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). However, its independent impact on mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has not been established.</AbstractText>We performed a systematic search for studies reporting characteristics and outcome of patients with and without significant MR and/or adjusted mortality associated with MR post-TAVI. We conducted a meta-analysis of quantitative data.</AbstractText>Seventeen studies with 20,717 patients compared outcomes and group characteristics. Twenty-one studies with 32,257 patients reported adjusted odds of mortality associated with MR. Patients with MR were older, had a higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, a higher incidence of prior myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, and a trend towards higher NYHA class III/IV, but had similar mean gradient, gender, and chronic kidney disease. The MR patients had a higher unadjusted short-term (RR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.30-1.65) and long-term mortality (RR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.18-1.65). However, 16 of 21 studies with 27,777 patients found no association between MR and mortality after adjusting for baseline variables. In greater than half of the patients (0.56, 95% CI 0.45-0.66) MR improved by at least one grade following TAVI.</AbstractText>The patients with MR undergoing TAVI have a higher burden of risk factors which can independently impact mortality. There is a lack of robust evidence supporting an increased mortality in MR patients, after adjusting for other compounding variables. MR tends to improve in the majority of patients post-TAVI.</AbstractText>© 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,603 | Efficacy and complications of cavo-tricuspid isthmus-dependent atrial flutter ablation in patients with and without structural heart disease: results from the German Ablation Registry. | The impact of structural heart disease (SHD) on safety and efficacy of catheter ablation of cavo-tricuspid isthmus-dependent atrial flutter (AFLU) is unclear. In addition, recent data suggest a higher complication rate of AFLU ablation compared to the more complex atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation procedure.</AbstractText>Within our prospective multicenter registry, 3526 consecutive patients underwent AFLU ablation at 49 German electrophysiological centers from 2007 to 2010. For the present analysis, the patients were divided into a group with SHD (n = 2164 [61.4%]; median age 69 years; 78.5% male) and a group without SHD (n = 1362 [38.6%]; 65 years; 70.3% male). In our study, SHD mainly encompasses coronary artery disease (52.6%), left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 50% (47.6%), and hypertensive heart disease (28.0%). The primary ablation success (97%) and the incidence of major (0.2%) or moderate (1.2%) complications did not differ significantly between the two groups (P = 1.0 and 0.87, respectively). Vascular access site complications (0.6%), AV block III° (0.2%), and bleeding (≥ BARC II: 0.2%) were most common. After a median 562 days of follow-up, we observed a 2.92-fold higher one-year mortality (P < 0.0001) in patients with SHD. Patients' satisfaction with the ablation therapy (72.0% satisfied) was close to the overall subjective tachyarrhythmia-free rate (70.7%).</AbstractText>The present analysis demonstrates that ablation of cavo-tricuspid isthmus dependent AFLU in patients with SHD has a comparable, excellent risk-benefit profile in our large "real-world" registry. Mortality rates expectedly are higher in patients with SHD and AFLU compared to patients without SHD. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT01197638, http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01197638.</AbstractText> |
16,604 | Left bundle branch area. A new site for physiological pacing: a pilot study. | Chronic RV pacing may lead to pacing induced cardiomyopathy in some patients and results in a higher risk of development of LV systolic dysfunction, heart failure, mitral regurgitation and atrial fibrillation. His bundle pacing emerged as the most physiologic form of ventricular pacing. However, wide adoption of this technique in routine clinical practice is limited by higher capture thresholds at implant sometimes, lower R wave amplitudes, atrial over sensing and increased risk for late rise in pacing thresholds (resulting in the need for lead revisions). Some recent studies have focused on left bundle branch area pacing as a solution to these problems. In our study, we have compared left bundle branch area pacing (in 22 patients) with conventional right ventricular apical pacing (in 28 patients) who presented to us with conventional indications for pacemaker implantations in term of procedure and fluoroscopy time and short-term lead performance and left ventricular function. The results of our study showed that left bundle branch area pacing is associated with shortened QRS duration (22.36 ± 9.36 ms) and better LV function (higher left ventricular ejection fraction 64.00 ± 3.03 vs. 59.73 ± 6.73 with a p value of 0.013 and lower left ventricular diastolic internal diameter 4.58 ± 0.32 vs. 5.23 ± 0.40 cm with a p value of < 0.001) in comparison to right ventricular apical pacing. The total procedure time and fluoroscopy time was similar (63.15 ± 7.02 vs. 55.15 ± 6.16 min, p value 0.142 and 6.08 ± 1.42 vs. 5.06 ± 1.30 min, p value 0.332 respectively) in left bundle branch area pacing group. The results of this study indicate that left bundle branch area pacing may be an option for physiological pacing in patients requiring a high percentage of ventricular pacing. |
16,605 | Purkinje system hyperexcitability and ventricular arrhythmia risk in type 3 long QT syndrome. | Gain-of-function variants in the SCN5A-encoded Nav</sub>1.5 sodium channel cause type 3 long QT syndrome (LQT3) and multifocal ectopic Purkinje-related premature contractions. Although the Purkinje system is uniquely sensitive to the action potential-prolonging effects of LQT3-causative variants, the existence of additional Purkinje phenotype(s) in LQT3 is unknown.</AbstractText>The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinical implications of frequent fascicular/Purkinje-related premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and short-coupled ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), suggestive of Purkinje system hyperexcitability (PSH), in a single-center LQT3 cohort.</AbstractText>A retrospective analysis of 177 SCN5A-positive patients was performed to identify individuals with a LQT3 phenotype. Available electrocardiographic, electrophysiology study, device, and genetic data from 91 individuals with LQT3 were reviewed for evidence of presumed fascicular PVCs and short-coupled VAs. The relationship between PSH and ventricular fibrillation events was assessed by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses.</AbstractText>Overall, 30 of 91 patients with LQT3 (33%) exhibited evidence of presumed PSH (fascicular PVCs 30 of 30 [100%]; short-coupled VAs 17 of 30 [56%]). Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses demonstrated an increased risk of ventricular fibrillation events in individuals with LQT3 and PSH (log-rank, P < .03; hazard ratio 3.95; 95% confidence interval 1.15-15.7; P = .03). Interestingly, variants in the voltage-sensing domain regions of Nav</sub>1.5 were more frequently observed in patients with LQT3 and PSH than those without (19 of 30 [63%] vs 9 of 61 [15%]; P < .0001).</AbstractText>This study demonstrates that a discernible Purkinje phenotype is present in one-third of LQT3 cases and increases the risk of potentially lethal VAs. Further study is needed to determine whether a distinct cellular electrophysiology phenotype underlies this phenomenon.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,606 | Procedural outcomes and learning curve of cardiac arrhythmias catheter ablation using remote magnetic navigation: Experience from a large-scale single-center study. | Remote magnetic navigation (RMN)-guided ablation has become an inspiring method of catheter ablation for tachyarrhythmias.</AbstractText>Data from a large-scale single center may provide further insight into the safety of and the learning curve for RMN-guided ablation.</AbstractText>A total of 1003 catheter ablation procedures using RMN for conditions including supraventricular ventricular tachycardia, atrial tachyarrhythmias, and premature ventricular contraction/ventricular tachycardia (PVC/VT) were retrospectively analyzed from an ablation registry. Procedural outcomes, including procedure time, mapping time, X-ray time, and RF time, were assessed. The complications were classified into two categories: major and minor. A subanalysis was used to illustrate the learning curve of RMN-guided ablation by assessing procedure time and total X-ray time of 502 atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation procedures.</AbstractText>Among these procedures, 556 (55.4%) were AF and 290 (28.9%) were PVC/VT. Electrical pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in 99.0% of AF procedures, and acute success reached 90.3% in PVC/VT procedures. The overall complication rate was 0.5%. In the subanalysis of AF procedures, the overall procedure time and X-ray time of procedures were short (125.9 ± 54.6 and 5.3 ± 3.9 minutes, respectively) and proceeded to decrease from the initial 30 procedures to about 300 procedures, where the learning curve reached plateau, demonstrating maximum procedure efficiency.</AbstractText>RMN-guided ablation is safe, as verified by very low overall complication rate and reduced X-ray time. In our study, even the first AF procedures had a relatively low procedure time and total X-ray time, and procedure efficiency improved during the learning curve.</AbstractText>© 2020 The Authors. Clinical Cardiology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,607 | The Small Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel Inhibitors NS8593 and UCL1684 Prevent the Development of Atrial Fibrillation Through Atrial-Selective Inhibition of Sodium Channel Activity. | The mechanisms underlying atrial-selective prolongation of effective refractory period (ERP) and suppression of atrial fibrillation (AF) by NS8593 and UCL1684, small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channel blockers, are poorly defined. The purpose of the study was to confirm the effectiveness of these agents to suppress AF and to probe the underlying mechanisms. Transmembrane action potentials and pseudoelectrocardiograms were recorded from canine isolated coronary-perfused canine atrial and ventricular wedge preparations. Patch clamp techniques were used to record sodium channel current (INa) in atrial and ventricular myocytes and human embryonic kidney cells. In both atria and ventricles, NS8593 (3-10 µM) and UCL1684 (0.5 µM) did not significantly alter action potential duration, suggesting little to no SK channel inhibition. Both agents caused atrial-selective: (1) prolongation of ERP secondary to development of postrepolarization refractoriness, (2) reduction of Vmax, and (3) increase of diastolic threshold of excitation (all are sodium-mediated parameters). NS8593 and UCL1684 significantly reduced INa density in human embryonic kidney cells as well as in atrial but not in ventricular myocytes at physiologically relevant holding potentials. NS8593 caused a shift of steady-state inactivation to negative potentials in atrial but not ventricular cells. NS8593 and UCL1684 prevented induction of acetylcholine-mediated AF in 6/6 and 8/8 preparations, respectively. This anti-AF effect was associated with strong rate-dependent depression of excitability. The SK channel blockers, NS8593 and UCL1684, are effective in preventing the development of AF due to potent atrial-selective inhibition of INa, causing atrial-selective prolongation of ERP secondary to induction of postrepolarization refractoriness. |
16,608 | Outcomes After In-Hospital Pediatric Recurrent Cardiac Arrests. | The objective of this study is to determine outcomes of recurrent cardiac arrest events in the general pediatric inpatient population.</AbstractText>Retrospective cohort study of inpatients in a single institution.</AbstractText>A tertiary care free-standing children's hospital.</AbstractText>All patients less than 18 years old at Seattle Children's Hospital with recurrent cardiac arrest events occurring from January 1, 2010, to March 1, 2018, were included.</AbstractText>None.</AbstractText>Overall survival to hospital discharge was 50% and all survivors had a good neurologic outcome, defined as Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category of 3 or less, or unchanged from baseline. Survival among patients who received extracorporeal life support was 43% and among those who received extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, 33%. Initial arrest factors associated with survival included initial rhythm of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, shorter duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and absence of multiple organ dysfunction. Additionally, nonsurvivors had more severe metabolic acidosis in the prearrest and postarrest period.</AbstractText>Survival after pediatric in-hospital recurrent cardiac arrest is higher than previously reported. There is also evidence that initial rhythm other than ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation and longer duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation as well as multiple organ dysfunction and more severe lactic acidosis in the peri-arrest period are associated with poor outcomes.</AbstractText> |
16,609 | Proarrhythmic effects from competitive atrial pacing and potential programming solutions.<Pagination><StartPage>720</StartPage><EndPage>729</EndPage><MedlinePgn>720-729</MedlinePgn></Pagination><ELocationID EIdType="doi" ValidYN="Y">10.1111/pace.13962</ELocationID><Abstract><AbstractText Label="BACKGROUND">Programmed long AV delays and intrinsic long first degree AV block may increase risk for competitive atrial pacing (CAP) in devices without CAP avoidance algorithms.</AbstractText><AbstractText Label="METHODS">Patients identified with CAP-induced mode switch episodes were followed clinically from September 2013 to August 2019. Attempts to avoid CAP included shortening of postventricular atrial refractory period (PVARP) or postventricular atrial blanking period (PVAB), or change to AAI or DDI modes. After observing associations with sensor-driven pacing, rate response was inactivated in a subset.</AbstractText><AbstractText Label="RESULTS">Among 23 patients identified with CAP (22 St Jude Medical [Abbott]; one Boston Scientific Corporation devices), atrial fibrillation (AF) was induced in 12 (52%), lasting 10 seconds to 28 hours and 32 minutes. In one patient with an ICD CAP-induced AF with rapid ventricular rates that triggered a shock, inducing ventricular fibrillation, syncope, and another shock. Changing AV delays and shortening of PVARP failed to resolve CAP. After noting that all had CAP during sensor-driven pacing, rate response was inactivated in seven, resolving further device-induced AF in the three of seven that had prior CAP-induced AF. In two patients with intact AV conduction, AAI(R) pacing resolved further documentation of CAP.</AbstractText><AbstractText Label="CONCLUSIONS">CAP predominantly occurs during sensor-driven atrial pacing that competes with intrinsic atrial events falling in PVARP. Inactivation of the activity sensor or change to atrial-based pacing modes (AAI/R) appears to effectively prevent induction of device-induced atrial proarrhythmia. Ultimately, a corrective algorithm is needed to avoid CAP-induced proarrhythmia.</AbstractText><CopyrightInformation>© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.</CopyrightInformation></Abstract><AuthorList CompleteYN="Y"><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Wass</LastName><ForeName>SoJin Y</ForeName><Initials>SY</Initials><Identifier Source="ORCID">0000-0001-9354-0011</Identifier><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>The Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Kanj</LastName><ForeName>Mohamed</ForeName><Initials>M</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>The Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Mayuga</LastName><ForeName>Kenneth</ForeName><Initials>K</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>The Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Hussein</LastName><ForeName>Ayman</ForeName><Initials>A</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>The Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Saliba</LastName><ForeName>Walid I</ForeName><Initials>WI</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>The Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Bhargava</LastName><ForeName>Mandeep</ForeName><Initials>M</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>The Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Cantillon</LastName><ForeName>Daniel</ForeName><Initials>D</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>The Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Tchou</LastName><ForeName>Patrick J</ForeName><Initials>PJ</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>The Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Wazni</LastName><ForeName>Oussama</ForeName><Initials>O</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>The Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Wilkoff</LastName><ForeName>Bruce L</ForeName><Initials>BL</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>The Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Chung</LastName><ForeName>Mina K</ForeName><Initials>MK</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>The Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author></AuthorList><Language>eng</Language><PublicationTypeList><PublicationType UI="D016428">Journal Article</PublicationType></PublicationTypeList><ArticleDate DateType="Electronic"><Year>2020</Year><Month>06</Month><Day>20</Day></ArticleDate></Article><MedlineJournalInfo><Country>United States</Country><MedlineTA>Pacing Clin Electrophysiol</MedlineTA><NlmUniqueID>7803944</NlmUniqueID><ISSNLinking>0147-8389</ISSNLinking></MedlineJournalInfo><CitationSubset>IM</CitationSubset><MeshHeadingList><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D000368" MajorTopicYN="N">Aged</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D000369" MajorTopicYN="N">Aged, 80 and over</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D000465" MajorTopicYN="Y">Algorithms</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D001281" MajorTopicYN="N">Atrial Fibrillation</DescriptorName><QualifierName UI="Q000503" MajorTopicYN="Y">physiopathology</QualifierName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D002304" MajorTopicYN="N">Cardiac Pacing, Artificial</DescriptorName><QualifierName UI="Q000379" MajorTopicYN="Y">methods</QualifierName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D017147" MajorTopicYN="Y">Defibrillators, Implantable</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D005260" MajorTopicYN="N">Female</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D006325" MajorTopicYN="N">Heart Atria</DescriptorName><QualifierName UI="Q000503" MajorTopicYN="Y">physiopathology</QualifierName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D006352" MajorTopicYN="N">Heart Ventricles</DescriptorName><QualifierName UI="Q000503" MajorTopicYN="Y">physiopathology</QualifierName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D006801" MajorTopicYN="N">Humans</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D008297" MajorTopicYN="N">Male</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D008875" MajorTopicYN="N">Middle Aged</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D010138" MajorTopicYN="Y">Pacemaker, Artificial</DescriptorName></MeshHeading></MeshHeadingList><KeywordList Owner="NOTNLM"><Keyword MajorTopicYN="N">atrial fibrillation</Keyword><Keyword MajorTopicYN="N">defibrillator shock</Keyword><Keyword MajorTopicYN="N">pacing</Keyword><Keyword MajorTopicYN="N">proarrhythmia</Keyword></KeywordList></MedlineCitation><PubmedData><History><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="received"><Year>2020</Year><Month>2</Month><Day>19</Day></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="revised"><Year>2020</Year><Month>4</Month><Day>15</Day></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="accepted"><Year>2020</Year><Month>5</Month><Day>6</Day></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="pubmed"><Year>2020</Year><Month>5</Month><Day>27</Day><Hour>6</Hour><Minute>0</Minute></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="medline"><Year>2021</Year><Month>10</Month><Day>6</Day><Hour>6</Hour><Minute>0</Minute></PubMedPubDate><PubMedPubDate PubStatus="entrez"><Year>2020</Year><Month>5</Month><Day>27</Day><Hour>6</Hour><Minute>0</Minute></PubMedPubDate></History><PublicationStatus>ppublish</PublicationStatus><ArticleIdList><ArticleId IdType="pubmed">32452039</ArticleId><ArticleId IdType="doi">10.1111/pace.13962</ArticleId></ArticleIdList><ReferenceList><Title>REFERENCES</Title><Reference><Citation>Furman S, Cooper JA. 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Indian Pacing Electrophysiol J. 2016;16:139-144.</Citation></Reference></ReferenceList></PubmedData></PubmedArticle><PubmedArticle><MedlineCitation Status="PubMed-not-MEDLINE" Owner="NLM"><PMID Version="1">32450107</PMID><DateRevised><Year>2021</Year><Month>09</Month><Day>27</Day></DateRevised><Article PubModel="Print-Electronic"><Journal><ISSN IssnType="Electronic">1474-547X</ISSN><JournalIssue CitedMedium="Internet"><PubDate><Year>2020</Year><Month>May</Month><Day>22</Day></PubDate></JournalIssue><Title>Lancet (London, England)</Title><ISOAbbreviation>Lancet</ISOAbbreviation></Journal>RETRACTED: Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19: a multinational registry analysis. | Programmed long AV delays and intrinsic long first degree AV block may increase risk for competitive atrial pacing (CAP) in devices without CAP avoidance algorithms.</AbstractText>Patients identified with CAP-induced mode switch episodes were followed clinically from September 2013 to August 2019. Attempts to avoid CAP included shortening of postventricular atrial refractory period (PVARP) or postventricular atrial blanking period (PVAB), or change to AAI or DDI modes. After observing associations with sensor-driven pacing, rate response was inactivated in a subset.</AbstractText>Among 23 patients identified with CAP (22 St Jude Medical [Abbott]; one Boston Scientific Corporation devices), atrial fibrillation (AF) was induced in 12 (52%), lasting 10 seconds to 28 hours and 32 minutes. In one patient with an ICD CAP-induced AF with rapid ventricular rates that triggered a shock, inducing ventricular fibrillation, syncope, and another shock. Changing AV delays and shortening of PVARP failed to resolve CAP. After noting that all had CAP during sensor-driven pacing, rate response was inactivated in seven, resolving further device-induced AF in the three of seven that had prior CAP-induced AF. In two patients with intact AV conduction, AAI(R) pacing resolved further documentation of CAP.</AbstractText>CAP predominantly occurs during sensor-driven atrial pacing that competes with intrinsic atrial events falling in PVARP. Inactivation of the activity sensor or change to atrial-based pacing modes (AAI/R) appears to effectively prevent induction of device-induced atrial proarrhythmia. Ultimately, a corrective algorithm is needed to avoid CAP-induced proarrhythmia.</AbstractText>© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,610 | Heart rate outcomes with concomitant parenteral calcium channel blockers and beta blockers in rapid atrial fibrillation or flutter. | Patients who present with atrial fibrillation (AF) or flutter with rapid ventricular response (RVR) and hemodynamic stability may be managed with either an intravenous (IV) nondihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (CCB) or a beta-blocker (BB). Patients without improved heart rates may need to switch to, or add, a second AV nodal blocker.</AbstractText>To evaluate the incidence of rate control achievement and bradycardia in patients in AF or atrial flutter with RVR who receive both an intravenous CCB and a BB.</AbstractText>A retrospective chart review of patients who received concomitant intravenous CCB or BB for the treatment of rapid AF or atrial flutter from April 2016 through July 2018 in the emergency department. Patients were excluded if the second agent was ordered but not administered, or if they received IV amiodarone or digoxin.</AbstractText>A total of 136 patients were included in the analysis, and of those, 46% (n = 62) of patients achieved a heart rate <110 bpm without bradycardia, and 3.7% (n = 5) developed bradycardia. Age, initial heart rate, time between CCB and BB administration, addition of an oral CCB or BB administration, or administration of IV magnesium did not impact target heart rate achievement.</AbstractText>Adding a second nodal blocker in patients who did not achieve rate control with the first agent resulted in heart rate control 46% of the time. The development of symptomatic bradycardia was uncommon.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,611 | Ventricular Fibrillation Caused by Primary Carnitine Deficiency. | Primary carnitine deficiency (PCD) is a rare but potentially life-threatening genetic disorder if left untreated. Although some patients remain asymptomatic lifelong, a few patients present with hepatic encephalopathy, hypoglycemia, cardiomyopathy, dysrhythmia, and even sudden death.</AbstractText>A 25-year-old woman with PCD collapsed suddenly while eating lunch. Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed for 8 min, with automated external defibrillation once before admission. Upon arrival at our emergency department (ED), she was unresponsive without a pulse or spontaneous breathing. The initial heart rhythm on the electrocardiogram monitor was ventricular fibrillation (VF). The medical staff continued CPR with defibrillation for sustained VF. Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was achieved after a total resuscitation time of 14 min, with defibrillation twice after cardiac arrest. The heart rhythm after ROSC was atrial fibrillation, with a rapid ventricular rate initially and subsequent progression to sinus tachycardia with diffuse ST segment depression and a prolonged QT interval. Her low carnitine level was consistent with her underlying disease. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and sonography for detection of cardiomyopathy showed no significant findings. With carnitine supplementation for a few days, her plasma carnitine level returned to 30 μM, with no recurrence of ventricular dysrhythmia. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: PCD is rare but could be life-threatening, and compiling detailed histories may help emergency physicians to determine the cause of sudden cardiac death after resuscitation. This information may be used to correct potential underlying problems and prevent recurrence of the condition after treatment.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,612 | New-onset heart failure after acute coronary syndrome in patients without heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction. | Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to assess the risk of readmission for HF in patients with acute coronary syndrome without previous HF or left ventricular dysfunction.</AbstractText>Prospective study of consecutive patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome in 2 institutions. Risk factors for HF were analyzed by competing risk regression, taking all-cause mortality as a competing event.</AbstractText>We included 5962 patients and 567 (9.5%) experienced at least 1 hospital readmission for acute HF. Median follow-up was 63 months and median time to HF readmission was 27.1 months. The cumulative incidence of HF was higher than mortality in the first 7 years after hospital discharge. A higher risk of HF readmission was associated with age, diabetes, previous coronary heart disease, GRACE score> 140, peripheral arterial disease, renal dysfunction, hypertension and atrial fibrillation; a lower risk was associated with optimal medical treatment. The incidence of HF in the first year of follow-up was 2.73% and no protective variables were found. A simple HF risk score predicted HF readmissions risk.</AbstractText>One out of 10 patients discharged after an acute coronary syndrome without previous HF or left ventricular dysfunction had new-onset HF and the risk was higher than the risk of mortality. A simple clinical score can estimate individual risk of HF readmission even in patients without previous HF or left ventricular dysfunction.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,613 | Preconditioning with levosimendan reduces postoperative low cardiac output in moderate-severe systolic dysfunction patients who will undergo elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a cost-effective strategy. | Patients with moderate-severe systolic dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass graft have a higher incidence of postoperative low cardiac output. Preconditioning with levosimendan may be a useful strategy to prevent this complication. In this context, design cost-effective strategies like preconditioning with levosimendan may become necessary.</AbstractText>In a sequential assignment of patients with Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction less than 40%, two strategies were compared in terms of cost-effectiveness: standard care (n = 41) versus preconditioning with Levosimendan (n = 13). The adverse effects studied included: postoperative new-onset atrial fibrillation, low cardiac output, renal failure and prolonged mechanical ventilation. The costs were evaluated using deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis, and Monte Carlo simulations were performed.</AbstractText>Preconditioning with levosimendan in moderate to severe systolic dysfunction (Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction < 40%), was associated with a lower incidence of postoperative low cardiac output in elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery 2(15.4%) vs 25(61%) (P < 0.01) and lesser intensive care unit length of stay 2(1-4) vs 4(3-6) days (P = 0.03). Average cost on levosimendan group was 14,792€ while the average cost per patient without levosimendan was 17,007€. Patients with no complications represented 53.8% of the total in the levosimendan arm, as compared to 31.7% in the non-levosimendan arm. In all Montecarlo simulations for sensitivity analysis, use of levosimendan was less expensive and more effective.</AbstractText>Preconditioning with levosimendan, is a cost-effective strategy preventing postoperative low cardiac output in patients with moderate-severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery.</AbstractText> |
16,614 | Pauses in atrial rhythm in a patient with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy: A case report. | A 58-year-old woman with a history of multi-origin atrial tachycardia and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy was treated for presyncope caused by pauses in atrial rhythm. A dual-chamber pacemaker was implanted. The low-voltage area extended broadly, but 10-V pacing could not capture the large right atrium, including the right atrial appendage, except the coronary sinus ostium. The atrial lead was screwed in using a steerable stylet. A ventricular lead was placed in the right ventricular apex. Atrial pacing at the coronary sinus was required to treat the pauses in the atrial rhythm. |
16,615 | Cardiac natriuretic peptides. | Investigations into the mixed muscle-secretory phenotype of cardiomyocytes from the atrial appendages of the heart led to the discovery that these cells produce, in a regulated manner, two polypeptide hormones - the natriuretic peptides - referred to as atrial natriuretic factor or atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain or B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), thereby demonstrating an endocrine function for the heart. Studies on the gene encoding ANP (NPPA) initiated the field of modern research into gene regulation in the cardiovascular system. Additionally, ANP and BNP were found to be the natural ligands for cell membrane-bound guanylyl cyclase receptors that mediate the effects of natriuretic peptides through the generation of intracellular cGMP, which interacts with specific enzymes and ion channels. Natriuretic peptides have many physiological actions and participate in numerous pathophysiological processes. Important clinical entities associated with natriuretic peptide research include heart failure, obesity and systemic hypertension. Plasma levels of natriuretic peptides have proven to be powerful diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of heart disease. Development of pharmacological agents that are based on natriuretic peptides is an area of active research, with vast potential benefits for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. |
16,616 | Optical mapping of the pig heart in situ under artificial blood circulation. | The emergence of optical imaging has revolutionized the investigation of cardiac electrical activity and associated disorders in various cardiac pathologies. The electrical signals of the heart and the propagation pathways are crucial for elucidating the mechanisms of various cardiac pathological conditions, including arrhythmia. The synthesis of near-infrared voltage-sensitive dyes and the voltage sensitivity of the FDA-approved dye Cardiogreen have increased the importance of optical mapping (OM) as a prospective tool in clinical practice. We aimed to develop a method for the high-spatiotemporal-resolution OM of the large animal hearts in situ using di-4-ANBDQBS and Cardiogreen under patho/physiological conditions. OM was adapted to monitor cardiac electrical behaviour in an open-chest pig heart model with physiological or artificial blood circulation. We detail the methods and display the OM data obtained using di-4-ANBDQBS and Cardiogreen. Activation time, action potential duration, repolarization time and conduction velocity maps were constructed. The technique was applied to track cardiac electrical activity during regional ischaemia and arrhythmia. Our study is the first to apply high-spatiotemporal-resolution OM in the pig heart in situ to record cardiac electrical activity qualitatively under artificial blood perfusion. The use of an FDA-approved voltage-sensitive dye and artificial blood perfusion in a swine model, which is generally accepted as a valuable pre-clinical model, demonstrates the promise of OM for clinical application. |
16,617 | Contact force sensing in ablation of ventricular arrhythmias using a 56-hole open-irrigation catheter: a propensity-matched analysis. | The effect of adding contact force (CF) sensing to 56-hole tip irrigation in ventricular arrhythmia (VA) ablation has not been previously studied. We aimed to compare outcomes with and without CF sensing in VA ablation using a 56-hole radiofrequency (RF) catheter.</AbstractText>A total of 164 patients who underwent first-time VA ablation using Thermocool SmartTouch Surround Flow (TC-STSF) catheter (Biosense-Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA) were propensity-matched in a 1:1 fashion to 164 patients who had first-time ablation using Thermocool Surround Flow (TC-SF) catheter. Patients were matched for age, gender, cardiac aetiology, ejection fraction and approach. Acute success, complications and long-term follow-up were compared.</AbstractText>There was no difference between procedures utilising either TC-SF or TC-STSF in acute success (TC-SF: 134/164 (82%), TC-STSF: 141/164 (86%), p = 0.3), complications (TC-SF: 11/164 (6.7%), TC-STSF: 11/164 (6.7%), p = 1.0) or VA-free survival (TC-SF: mean arrhythmia-free survival time = 5.9 years, 95% CI = 5.4-6.4, TC-STSF: mean = 3.2 years, 95% CI = 3-3.5, log-rank p = 0.74). Fluoroscopy time was longer in normal hearts with TC-SF (19 min, IQR: 14-30) than TC-STSF (14 min, IQR: 8-25; p = 0.04).</AbstractText>Both TC-SF and TC-STSF catheters are safe and effective in treating VAs. The use of CF sensing catheters did not improve safety or acute and long-term outcomes, but reduced fluoroscopy time in normal heart VA.</AbstractText> |
16,618 | Characterisation of mexiletine's translational therapeutic index for suppression of ischaemia-induced ventricular fibrillation in the rat isolated heart. | The 'translational therapeutic index' (TTI) is a drug's ratio of nonclinical threshold dose (or concentration) for significant benefit versus threshold for adversity. In early nonclinical research, discovery and safety studies are normally undertaken separately. Our aim was to evaluate a novel integrated approach for generating a TTI for drugs intended for prevention of ischaemia-induced ventricular fibrillation (VF). We templated the current best available class 1b antiarrhythmic, mexiletine, using the rat Langendorff preparation. Mexiletine's beneficial effects on the incidence of VF caused by 120 min regional ischaemia were contrasted with its concurrent adverse effects (on several variables) in the same hearts, to generate a TTI. Mexiletine 0.1 and 0.5 µM had no adverse effects, but did not reduce VF incidence. Mexiletine 1 µM reduced VF incidence to 0% but had adverse effects on atrioventricular conduction and ventricular repolarization. Separate studies undertaken using an intraventricular balloon revealed no detrimental effects of mexiletine (1 and 5 µM) on mechanical function, or any benefit against reperfusion-related dysfunction. Mexiletine's TTI was found to be less than two, which accords with its clinical therapeutic index. Although non-cardiac adversity, identifiable from additional in vivo studies, may reduce the TTI further, it cannot increase it. Our experimental approach represents a useful early-stage integrated risk/benefit method that, when TTI is found to be low, would eliminate unsuitable class 1b drugs prior to next stage in vivo work, with mexiletine's TTI defining the gold standard that would need to be bettered. |
16,619 | Measuring atrial stasis during sinus rhythm in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation using 4 Dimensional flow imaging: 4D flow imaging of atrial stasis. | Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is associated with cardioembolic risk, however events may occur during sinus rhythm (SR). 4D-flow cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging allows visualisation of left atrial blood flow, to determine the residence time distribution (RTD), an assessment of atrial transit time.</AbstractText>To determine if atrial transit time is prolonged in PAF patients during SR, consistent with underlying atrial stasis.</AbstractText>91 participants with PAF and 18 healthy volunteers underwent 4D flow analysis in SR. Velocity fields were produced RTDs, calculated by seeding virtual 'particles' at the right upper pulmonary vein and counting them exiting the mitral valve. An exponential decay curve quantified residence time of particles in the left atrium, and atrial stasis was expressed as the derived constant (RTDTC</sub>) based on heartbeats. The RTDTC</sub> was evaluated within the PAF group, and compared to healthy volunteers.</AbstractText>Patients with PAF (n = 91) had higher RTDTC</sub> compared with gender-matched controls (n = 18) consistent with greater atrial stasis (1.68 ± 0.46 beats vs 1.51 ± 0.20 beats; p = .005). PAF patients with greater thromboembolic risk had greater atrial stasis (median RTDTC</sub> of 1.72 beats in CHA₂DS₂-VASc≥2 vs 1.52 beats in CHA₂DS₂-VASc<2; p = .03), only female gender and left ventricular ejection fraction contributed significantly to the atrial RTDTC</sub> (p = .006 and p = .023 respectively).</AbstractText>Atrial stasis quantified by 4D flow is greater in PAF, correlating with higher CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores. Female gender and systolic dysfunction are associated with atrial stasis. RTD offers an insight into atrial flow that may be developed to provide a personalised assessment of thromboembolic risk.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,620 | Magnetic resonance phase contrast velocity mapping for flow quantification in irregular heart rhythms using radial k-space ultrashort echo time imaging. | Phase contrast velocity mapping sequences utilising ultrashort echo time (UTE) radial k-space sequences have been used to reduce intravoxel dephasing at high velocities. We evaluated the accuracy of the UTE flow sequence for mitral regurgitation (MR) quantification, including patients with atrial fibrillation.</AbstractText>Forty patients underwent cardiac MRI for indirect MR quantification by assessment of aortic flow using a UTE phase contrast sequence (TE 0.65 ms) combined with left ventricular stroke volume. Retrospective ECG-gating was used in sinus rhythm (30 patients), prospective ECG-triggering in atrial fibrillation (10). MR was also quantified by a standard phase contrast sequence (TE 2.85 ms, standard flow method) and by comparing stroke volumes (volumetric method).</AbstractText>UTE flow-derived MR measurement showed modest agreement in sinus rhythm (95% limits of agreement: ±38.2 ml; ±29.8%) and atrial fibrillation (±33.7 ml; ±30.3%) compared to standard flow assessment. There was little systematic bias in sinus rhythm (mean offset -4.4 ml /-3.5% compared to standard flow assessment), but a slight bias towards greater regurgitation in atrial fibrillation (+15.2 ml /+14.0%). There were wider limits of agreement between the UTE flow method and volumetric method than between the regular flow method and the volumetric method in sinus rhythm (±48.4 ml; ±36.4%; mean offset: -12.2 ml /-9.0%) and similar limits of agreement in atrial fibrillation (±29.6 ml; 25.8%; +12.0 ml /+10.3%).</AbstractText>UTE flow imaging is inferior to conventional flow techniques for MR assessment in patients with sinus rhythm as well as atrial fibrillation. However, the number of atrial fibrillation patients in this initial study is small.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,621 | Ca<sup>2+</sup> currents in cardiomyocytes: How to improve interpretation of patch clamp data? | Variability of ion currents is major issue when used for significance testing. One of the simplest approach to reduce variability is normalization to cell membrane size. However, efficacy of Ca2+</sup> currents (ICa</sub>) normalization is unknown. Beside absolute variability, the type of distribution since non-Gaussian distribution makes application of nonparametric test necessary.</AbstractText>We retrospectively analyzed individual ICa</sub> amplitudes measured in ventricular cardiomyocytes from mice, rats and humans and in atrial cardiomyocytes from humans in sinus rhythm and in atrial fibrillation. ICa</sub> was normalized to cell membrane size, estimated from capacitance transients. In addition, data were Log transformed to reach Gaussian distribution. Normalized and transformed data were analyzed for variability and applicability of parametric vs. nonparametric tests.</AbstractText>There was strong correlation between ICa</sub> and cell membrane size. However, correlation coefficient was rather low. Normalizing ICa</sub> had an inconsistent effect on variability. Variability of ICa</sub> in cells from the same patient/animal was not different cardiomyocytes from humans, rat and mice. Calculation of mean values based on mean values of cells from individuals (patients or animals) vs. mean values calculated for all cells drastically reduces statistical power to detect differences between the groups. Log transformation of ICa</sub> allowed application of much higher sensitive parametric testing, compensating loss of power.</AbstractText>Impact of cell membrane size to ICa</sub> is low and may limit efficacy of normalization of ICa</sub> to reduce variability. In contrast, Log transformation of ICa</sub> data reduces variability and can increase statistical power to detect difference between ICa</sub> datasets.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,622 | Stellate Ganglion Blockade for the Treatment of Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmias. | This study sought to describe our institutional experience with establishing a neurocardiology service in an attempt to provide autonomic modulation as a treatment for ventricular arrhythmias (VAs).</AbstractText>Treatment-refractory VAs are commonly driven and exacerbated by heightened sympathetic tone.</AbstractText>Among patients referred to the neurocardiology service (August 2016 to December 2018), we performed ultrasound-based, bilateral, temporary stellate ganglion blockade (SGB) in 20 consecutive patients. We analyzed outcomes of interest including sustained VA or VA requiring defibrillation in the 24 and 48 h before and 24 and 48 h after SGB.</AbstractText>The majority of patients were men (n = 19, 95%), with a mean age of 58 ± 14 years. At the time of SGB, 10 (50%) were on inotropic support and 9 (45%) were on mechanical circulatory support. Besides 1 case of hoarseness, there were no apparent procedural complications. SGB was associated with a reduction in the number of VA episodes from the 24 h before (median 5.5 [interquartile range (IQR): 2.0 to 15.8]) to 24 h after SGB (median 0 [IQR: 0 to 3.8]) (p < 0.001). The number of defibrillation events decreased from 2.5 (IQR: 0 to 10.3) to 0 (IQR: 0 to 2.5) (p = 0.002). Similar findings were observed over the 48-h period before and after the SGB. Overall, 9 of 20 (45%) patients had a complete response with no recurrence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) for 48 h after SGB. Four (20%) patients had no recurrent VT or VF following SGB through discharge. Similar response rates were observed in those with ischemic (median 6 [IQR: 1.8 to 18.8] to 0.5 [IQR: 0 to 5.3] events; p = 0.031) and nonischemic (median 3.5 [IQR: 1.8 to 6.8] to 0 [IQR: 0 to 1.3] events; p = 0.012) cardiomyopathy.</AbstractText>Minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided bilateral SGB appears safe and provides substantial reduction in VA burden with approximately 1 in 2 patients exhibiting complete suppression of VT or VF for 48 h.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,623 | Autonomic Modulation of Cardiac Arrhythmias: Methods to Assess Treatment and Outcomes. | The autonomic nervous system plays a central role in the pathogenesis of multiple cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. As such, autonomic modulation represents an attractive therapeutic approach in these conditions. Notably, autonomic modulation exploits the plasticity of the neural tissue to induce neural remodeling and thus obtain therapeutic benefit. Different forms of autonomic modulation include vagus nerve stimulation, tragus stimulation, renal denervation, baroreceptor activation therapy, and cardiac sympathetic denervation. This review seeks to highlight these autonomic modulation therapeutic modalities, which have shown promise in early preclinical and clinical trials and represent exciting alternatives to standard arrhythmia treatment. We also present an overview of the various methods used to assess autonomic tone, including heart rate variability, skin sympathetic nerve activity, and alternans, which can be used as surrogate markers and predictors of the treatment effect. Although the use of autonomic modulation to treat cardiac arrhythmias is supported by strong preclinical data and preliminary studies in humans, in light of the disappointing results of a number of recent randomized clinical trials of autonomic modulation therapies in heart failure, the need for optimization of the stimulation parameters and rigorous patient selection based on appropriate biomarkers cannot be overemphasized. |
16,624 | Frequency and Impact of Bleeding on Outcome in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock. | This study sought to determine frequency, associated factors, and impact of bleeding in infarct-related cardiogenic shock.</AbstractText>Early revascularization is associated with improved survival in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock. On the downside, invasive treatment and accompanying antithrombotic therapies are associated with an increased bleeding risk. Prospective data assessing the incidence, severity, risk factors, and prognostic implication of bleeding in patients with cardiogenic shock are scarce.</AbstractText>As a pre-defined subanalysis of the CULPRIT-SHOCK (PCI Strategies in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiogenic Shock) randomized trial, we examined distribution of bleeding events in 684 patients with infarct-related cardiogenic shock and compared patients with any bleeding to those without.</AbstractText>A total of 21.5% patients experienced at least 1 bleeding event until 30 days after randomization. The vast majority of bleeding (57%) occurred within the first 2 days of hospitalization. Patients with bleeding had prolonged catecholamine treatment and mechanical ventilation and there was a significant association with sepsis, peripheral ischemic complications, new atrial fibrillation, and ventricular fibrillation. In multivariable analysis, bleeding was associated with a significantly higher mortality (hazard ratio: 2.11; 95% confidence interval: 1.63 to 2.75; p < 0.0001). Treatment with active mechanical support by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or Impella emerged as the major risk factor for bleeding.</AbstractText>Risk of bleeding in infarct-related cardiogenic shock is high and associated with increased mortality.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,625 | Fully Convolutional Deep Neural Networks with Optimized Hyperparameters for Detection of Shockable and Non-Shockable Rhythms. | Deep neural networks (DNN) are state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms that can be learned to self-extract significant features of the electrocardiogram (ECG) and can generally provide high-output diagnostic accuracy if subjected to robust training and optimization on large datasets at high computational cost. So far, limited research and optimization of DNNs in shock advisory systems is found on large ECG arrhythmia databases from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA). The objective of this study is to optimize the hyperparameters (HPs) of deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) for detection of shockable (Sh) and nonshockable (NSh) rhythms, and to validate the best HP settings for short and long analysis durations (2-10 s). Large numbers of (Sh + NSh) ECG samples were used for training (720 + 3170) and validation (739 + 5921) from Holters and defibrillators in OHCA. An end-to-end deep CNN architecture was implemented with one-lead raw ECG input layer (5 s, 125 Hz, 2.5 uV/LSB), configurable number of 5 to 23 hidden layers and output layer with diagnostic probability <i>p</i> ∈ [0: Sh,1: NSh]. The hidden layers contain N convolutional blocks × 3 layers (Conv1D (filters = Fi, kernel size = Ki), max-pooling (pool size = 2), dropout (rate = 0.3)), one global max-pooling and one dense layer. Random search optimization of HPs = {N, Fi, Ki}, i = 1, … N in a large grid of N = [1, 2, … 7], Fi = [5;50], Ki = [5;100] was performed. During training, the model with maximal balanced accuracy BAC = (Sensitivity + Specificity)/2 over 400 epochs was stored. The optimization principle is based on finding the common HPs space of a few top-ranked models and prediction of a robust HP setting by their median value. The optimal models for 1-7 CNN layers were trained with different learning rates LR = [10<sup>-5</sup>; 10<sup>-2</sup>] and the best model was finally validated on 2-10 s analysis durations. A number of 4216 random search models were trained. The optimal models with more than three convolutional layers did not exhibit substantial differences in performance BAC = (99.31-99.5%). Among them, the best model was found with {N = 5, Fi = {20, 15, 15, 10, 5}, Ki = {10, 10, 10, 10, 10}, 7521 trainable parameters} with maximal validation performance for 5-s analysis (BAC = 99.5%, Se = 99.6%, Sp = 99.4%) and tolerable drop in performance (<2% points) for very short 2-s analysis (BAC = 98.2%, Se = 97.6%, Sp = 98.7%). DNN application in future-generation shock advisory systems can improve the detection performance of Sh and NSh rhythms and can considerably shorten the analysis duration complying with resuscitation guidelines for minimal hands-off pauses. |
16,626 | Effect of selective I<sub>K,ACh</sub> inhibition by XAF-1407 in an equine model of tachypacing-induced persistent atrial fibrillation. | Inhibition of the G-protein gated ACh-activated inward rectifier potassium current, IK,ACh</sub> may be an effective atrial selective treatment strategy for atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore, the anti-arrhythmic and electrophysiological properties of a novel putatively potent and highly specific IK,ACh</sub> inhibitor, XAF-1407 (3-methyl-1-[5-phenyl-4-[4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-ylethoxymethyl)-1-piperidyl]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-6-yl]azetidin-3-ol), were characterised for the first time in vitro and investigated in horses with persistent AF.</AbstractText>The pharmacological ion channel profile of XAF-1407 was investigated using cell lines expressing relevant ion channels. In addition, eleven horses were implanted with implantable cardioverter defibrillators enabling atrial tachypacing into self-sustained AF. The electrophysiological effects of XAF-1407 were investigated after serial cardioversions over a period of 1 month. Cardioversion success, drug-induced changes of atrial tissue refractoriness, and ventricular electrophysiology were assessed at baseline (day 0) and days 3, 5, 11, 17, and 29 after AF induction.</AbstractText>XAF-1407 potently and selectively inhibited Kir</sub> 3.1/3.4 and Kir</sub> 3.4/3.4, underlying the IK,ACh</sub> current. XAF-1407 treatment in horses prolonged atrial effective refractory period as well as decreased atrial fibrillatory rate significantly (~20%) and successfully cardioverted AF, although with a decreasing efficacy over time. XAF-1407 shortened atrioventricular-nodal refractoriness, without effect on QRS duration. QTc prolongation (4%) within 15 min of drug infusion was observed, however, without any evidence of ventricular arrhythmia.</AbstractText>XAF-1407 efficiently cardioverted sustained tachypacing-induced AF of short duration in horses without notable side effects. This supports IK,ACh</sub> inhibition as a potentially safe treatment of paroxysmal AF in horses, suggesting potential clinical value for other species including humans.</AbstractText>© 2020 The British Pharmacological Society.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,627 | The Impact of Atrial Fibrillation on In-Hospital Outcomes in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock Undergoing Coronary Revascularization with Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device Support. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (AMI-CS) requiring percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD-Impella®) support during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). We evaluated the effects of a coexistent diagnosis of AF on clinical outcomes in patients with AMI-CS undergoing PCI with pVAD support.</AbstractText>The National Inpatient Sample (2008-2014) was queried to identify patients with AMICS requiring PCI with pVAD support and had a concomitant diagnosis of AF. Propensity-matched cohorts (AF+ vs AF-) were compared for in-hospital outcomes.</AbstractText>A total of 840 patients with AMICS requiring PCI with pVAD support (420 AF+ vs 420 AF-) were identified in the matched cohort. Patients with AF were older (mean 69.7±12.0 vs 67.9±11.3 yrs, p=0.030). All-cause in-hospital mortality rates between the two groups were similar (40.5% vs 36.7%, p=0.245); however, higher postprocedural respiratory complications (9.5% vs 4.8%, p=0.007) were seen in AF+ group. In-hospital cardiac arrests were more frequent in the AF- group (32.0% vs 19.2%, p<0.001). We examined the length of stay (LOS), transfer to other facilities, and hospital charges as metrics of health care resource consumption and found that the AF+ cohort experienced fewer routine discharges (13.1% vs 30.2%), more frequent transfers to other facilities including skilled nursing facilities or intermediate care facilities (27.3% vs 17.8%; p<0.001), more frequently required the use of home health care (14.3% vs 7.1%; p<0.001). The mean LOS (11.9±10.1 vs 9.11±6.8, p<0.001) and hospital charges ($308,478 vs $277,982, p=0.008) were higher in the AF+ group.</AbstractText>In patients suffering AMICS requiring PCI and pVAD support, a coexistent diagnosis of AF was not associated with an increase in all-cause in-hospital mortality as compared to patients without AF. However, healthcare resource consumption as assessed by various metrics was consistently greater in the AF+ group.</AbstractText> |
16,628 | Dofetilide Initiation and Implications of Deviation From the Standard Protocol - A Real World Experience. | Manufacturer/federal drug administration (FDA) recommends inpatient initiation of dofetilide with the manufacturer providing an initiation algorithm. The outcomes of algorithm deviation have not been reported outside of clinical trials.</AbstractText>We sought to perform a chart review of all the patients admitted for inpatient initiation of dofetilide to report on the incidence of protocol deviations and their implications.</AbstractText>We performed a retrospective review of all patients over a 15-month periodwho were initiated on dofetilide for the very first time or reinitiated on dofetilide after a break of three months or more at our institution. We assessed data about patients who were given dofetilide without adherence to the protocol (i.e. protocol deviation).</AbstractText>A total of 189 patients were included in the study with a median age of 66 ± 9 years. Mean baseline QTc interval was 436 ± 32 msec, and 61% (116/189) were in atrial fibrillation (AF) at the time of dofetilide initiation. In 9% (17/189) of patients, the drug was discontinued due to intolerance or inefficacy. Therapy in 49% (93/189) of patients was noted to deviate from manufacturer recommended protocol with deviations more than once in some patients during the same hospitalization. Baseline QTc exceeding 440 msec(>500msec in conduction abnormalities) was the most frequent deviation (25%; 47/189).Ventricular tachyarrhythmia occurred in 4% (7/189) of patients, did not differ between patients, and occurred with and without protocol deviations (5% vs 2%; p = 0.27).</AbstractText>In our retrospective study, there were frequent deviations from the manufacturer-recommended algorithm guidelines for dofetilideinitation, primarily due to prolonged baseline QTc interval. The impact of these protocol deviations on drug discontinuation was uncertain; however, significant adverse events were higher in the deviation group compared to the group that fully adhered to the protocol. Further multicenter studies are warranted to clarify our findings.</AbstractText> |
16,629 | Phase Entrainment of Induced Ventricular Fibrillation: A Human Feasibility and Proof of Concept Study. | Cardioversion and defibrillation by a single high energy shock applied by myocardial or body surface electrodes is painful, causes long term tissue damage, and is associated with worsening long term outcomes, but is almost always required for treatment of ventricular fibrillation . As a initial step towards developing methods that can terminate ventricular arrhythmias painlessly, we aim to determine if pacing stimuli at a rate of 5/s applied via an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) can modify human ventricular fibrillation. In 8 patients undergoing defibrillation testing of a new/exchanged intracardiac defibrillator, five seconds of pacing at five stimuli per second was applied during the 10-20 seconds of induced ventricular fibrillation before the defibrillation shock was automatically applied, and the cardiac electrograms recorded and analyzed. The high frequency pacing did not entrain the ventricular fibrillation, but altered the dominant frequency in all 8 patients, and modulated the phase computed via the Hilbert Transform, in four of the patients. In this pilot study we demonstrate that high frequency pacing applied via ICD electrodes during VF can alter the dominant frequency and modulate the probability density of the phase of the electrogram of the ventricular fibrillation. |
16,630 | Prevalence and Factors Associated with Atrial Fibrillation Among Patients with Rheumatic Heart Disease. | Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is one of the common causes of atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There is a lack of data on the prevalence of AF and factors associated with increased risk of AF in patients with RHD from Nepal.</AbstractText>A total of 120 patients who received care at Nobel Medical College Teaching Hospital from January 2018 to February 2019 with a diagnosis of RHD with AF were enrolled. Demographic information, relevant clinical and laboratory parameters and predisposing conditions for AF were obtained from a structured questionnaire designed.</AbstractText>The prevalence of AF was 120 (36.3%) out of 330 cases of RHD screened. The male to female ratio was 32:88. The mean age was 50.2 (range 22-80) years. Prevalence was slightly more in females (36.9%) as compared to males (34.7 %). The prevalence of AF in patients with predominant mitral stenosis (MS) was 66.6% and less in patients with predominant mitral regurgitation (MR) (16.6%). The prevalence of AF in cases of MS with mitral valve area (MVA) < 1.5 cm2 was 76.2% as compared to 23.7% in cases with MVA > 1.5 cm2. Mitral valve (MV) was the most commonly affected valve (83.3%) followed by the aortic valve (10%). Both mitral and aortic valves were involved in 6.6% of patients. Majority of patients (97.5%) had enlarged left atrium (>40mm), reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <90 ml/min (85.8%). Patients of RHD with AF were complicated with decreased left ventricular (LV) systolic function (67.5%), pulmonary artery hypertension (52.5%), left atrial clot (9.1%), stroke (8.3%), and peripheral embolism (2.5%).</AbstractText>AF is a common rhythm disorder in patients with RHD. Prevalence of AF is common in females, increases with age, increasing LA size, increased severity of MS and decreased level of eGFR.</AbstractText> |
16,631 | A Meta-Regression Analysis of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in Patients with Systolic Heart Failure. | Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials comparing atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation to medical therapy in patients with heart failure (HF) reported improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), quality of life using the Minnesota Living with HF Questionnaire (MLWHFQ), and 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Nonetheless, there was significant heterogeneity not accounted for suggesting that not all HF patients derive the same effect from AF ablation.</AbstractText>To evaluate if baseline LVEF or the etiology of the cardiomyopathy would moderate the efficacy of AF ablation.</AbstractText>We performed random effects meta-regression using the mean baseline LVEF and total percentage of patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICMP) in the placebo arms as moderator variables.</AbstractText>Six trials with a total of 687 patients were included. The baseline LVEF in the control arm of trials ranged from 25% - 42.9%, and the percentage of patients with NICMP within each trial varied from 35% to 100%. When baseline LVEF was used as the moderator variable, no significant change in heterogeneity was observed for any of the outcomes of interest (R2 0.00 - 0.02). However, when controlling for NICMP, heterogeneity dropped substantially for the outcomes of LVEF (I2 44.7%, R2 0.91), and MLWHFQ (I2 0.00%, R2 1.00) but not 6MWT (I2 67.4%, R2 0.00). This indicates that improvement in LVEF and MLWHFQ was greater in the AF ablation group when more patients with NICMP were included in the trials.</AbstractText>In patients with systolic HF, AF ablation may be more beneficial in patients with NICMP.</AbstractText> |
16,632 | Inhibition of K<sub>Ca</sub>2 and K<sub>v</sub>11.1 Channels in Pigs With Left Ventricular Dysfunction. | Inhibition of KCa</sub>2 channels, conducting IKCa</sub>, can convert atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm and protect against its induction. IKCa</sub> inhibition has been shown to possess functional atrial selectivity with minor effects on ventricles. Under pathophysiological conditions with ventricular remodeling, however, inhibiting IKCa</sub> can exhibit both proarrhythmic and antiarrhythmic ventricular effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the IKCa</sub> inhibitor AP14145, when given before or after the IKr</sub> blocker dofetilide, on cardiac function and ventricular proarrhythmia markers in pigs with or without left ventricular dysfunction (LVD).</AbstractText>Landrace pigs were randomized into an AF group (n = 6) and two control groups: SHAM1 (n = 8) and SHAM2 (n = 4). AF pigs were atrially tachypaced (A-TP) for 43 ± 4 days until sustained AF and LVD developed. A-TP and SHAM1 pigs received 20 mg/kg AP14145 followed by 100 µg/kg dofetilide whereas SHAM2 pigs received the same drugs in the opposite order. Proarrhythmic markers such as short-term variability of QT (STVQT</sub>) and RR (STVRR</sub>) intervals, and the number of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) were measured at baseline and after administration of drugs. The influence on cardiac function was assessed by measuring cardiac output, stroke volume, and relevant echocardiographic parameters.</AbstractText>IKCa</sub> inhibition by AP14145 did not increase STVQT</sub> or STVRR</sub> in any of the pigs. IKr</sub> inhibition by dofetilide markedly increased STVQT</sub> in the A-TP pigs, but not in SHAM operated pigs. Upon infusion of AP14145 the number of PVCs decreased or remained unchanged both when AP14145 was infused after baseline and after dofetilide. Conversely, the number of PVCs increased or remained unchanged upon dofetilide infusion. Neither AP14145 nor dofetilide affected relevant echocardiographic parameters, cardiac output, or stroke volume in any of the groups.</AbstractText>IKCa</sub> inhibition with AP14145 was not proarrhythmic in healthy pigs, or in the presence of LVD resulting from A-TP. In pigs already challenged with 100 µg/kg dofetilide there were no signs of proarrhythmia when 20 mg/kg AP14145 were infused. KCa</sub>2 channel inhibition did not affect cardiac function, implying that KCa</sub>2 inhibitors can be administered safely also in the presence of LV dysfunction.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Citerni, Kirchhoff, Olsen, Sattler, Grunnet, Edvardsson, Bentzen and Diness.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,633 | Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension secondary to implantable cardioverter defibrillator lead thrombus in a patient with Brugada syndrome: a rare complication requiring a multidisciplinary approach. | We report the case of a 57-year-old male patient with prior syncope associated with sustained ventricular tachycardia in the setting of Brugada syndrome, who was submitted to implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator for secondary prevention. During follow-up, he presented a significant increase in lead impedance, and a transthoracic echocardiogram showed a mass attached to the lead. He was started on oral anticoagulation after infective endocarditis was excluded but nevertheless suffered repeated episodes of pulmonary embolism that led to severe chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. After heart team discussion, he was referred to pulmonary endarterectomy and replacement of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator with a subcutaneous device. This led to significant improvement of functional class and normalisation of pulmonary haemodynamics. More recently, he suffered syncope in the setting of ventricular fibrillation with appropriate shocks and was started on quinidine without further recurrence of arrhythmic episodes. |
16,634 | Association of right atrial structure with incident atrial fibrillation: a longitudinal cohort cardiovascular magnetic resonance study from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). | While studies of the left atrium (LA) have demonstrated associations between volumes and emptying fraction with atrial fibrillation (AF), the contribution of right atrial (RA) abnormalities to incident AF remains poorly understood.</AbstractText>Assess the association between RA structure and function with incident AF using feature-tracking cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).</AbstractText>This is a prospective cohort study of all participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis with baseline CMR, sinus rhythm, and free of clinical cardiovascular disease at study initiation. RA volume, strain, and emptying fraction in participants with incident AF (n = 368) were compared against AF-free (n = 2779). Cox proportional-hazards models assessed association between variables.</AbstractText>Participants were aged 60 ± 10 yrs., 55% female, and followed an average 11.2 years. Individuals developing AF had higher baseline RA maximum volume index (mean ± standard deviation [SD]: 24 ± 9 vs 22 ± 8 mL/m2</sup>, p = 0.002) and minimum volume index (13 ± 7 vs 12 ± 6 mL/m2</sup>, p < 0.001), and lower baseline RA emptying fraction (45 ± 15% vs 47 ± 15%, p = 0.02), peak global strain (34 ± 17% vs 36 ± 19%, p < 0.001), and peak free-wall strain (40 ± 23% vs 42 ± 26%, p = 0.049) compared with the AF-free population. After adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and LA volume and function, we found RA maximum volume index (hazards ratio [HR]: 1.13 per SD, p = 0.041) and minimum volume index (HR: 1.12 per SD, p = 0.037) were independently associated with incident AF.</AbstractText>In a large multiethnic population, higher RA volume indices were independently associated with incident AF after adjustment for conventional cardiovascular risk factors and LA parameters. It is unclear if this predictive value persists when additional adjustment is made for ventricular parameters.</AbstractText> |
16,635 | The role of the autonomic nervous system in cardiac arrhythmias: The neuro-cardiac axis, more foe than friend? | The autonomic nervous system (ANS) with its two limbs, the sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS), plays a critical role in the modulation of cardiac arrhythmogenesis. It can be both pro- and/or anti-arrhythmic at both the atrial and ventricular level of the myocardium. Intricate mechanisms, different for specific cardiac arrhythmias, are involved in this modulatory process. More data are available for the arrhythmogenic effects of the SNS, which, when overactive, can trigger atrial and/or ventricular "adrenergic" arrhythmias in susceptible individuals (e.g. in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation-PAF, ventricular pre-excitation, specific channelopathies, ischemic heart disease or cardiomyopathies), while it can also negate the protective anti-arrhythmic drug effects. However, there is also evidence that PSNS overactivity may be responsible for triggering "vagotonic" arrhythmias (e.g. PAF, Brugada syndrome, idiopathic ventricular fibrillation). Thus, a fine balance is necessary to attain in these two limbs of the ANS in order to maintain eurhythmia, which is a difficult task to accomplish. Over the years, in addition to classical drug therapies, where beta-blockers prevail, several ANS-modulating interventions have been developed aiming at prevention and management of arrhythmias. Among them, techniques of cardiac sympathetic denervation, renal denervation, vagal stimulation, ganglionated plexi ablation and the newer experimental method of optogenetics have been employed. However, in many arrhythmogenic diseases, ANS modulation is still an investigative tool. Initial data are encouraging; however, further studies are needed to explore the efficacy of such interventions. These issues are herein reviewed and old and recent literature data are discussed, tabulated and pictorially illustrated. |
16,636 | Factors affecting the course of resuscitation from cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity in children and adolescents. | Although in-hospital pediatric cardiac arrests and cardiopulmonary resuscitation occur >15,000/year in the US, few studies have assessed which factors affect the course of resuscitation in these patients. We investigated transitions from Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA) to Ventricular Fibrillation/pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia (VF/pVT), Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) and recurrences from ROSC to PEA in children and adolescents with in-hospital cardiac arrest.</AbstractText>Episodes of cardiac arrest at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia were prospectively registered. Defibrillators that recorded chest compression depth/rate and ventilation rate were applied. CPR variables, patient characteristics and etiology, and dynamic factors (e.g. the proportion of time spent in PEA or ROSC) were entered as time-varying covariates for the transition intensities under study.</AbstractText>In 67 episodes of CPR in 59 patients (median age 15 years) with cardiac arrest, there were 52 transitions from PEA to ROSC, 22 transitions from PEA to VF/pVT, and 23 recurrences of PEA from ROSC. Except for a nearly significant effect of mean compression depth beyond a threshold of 5.7 cm, only dynamic factors that evolved during CPR favored a transition from PEA to ROSC. The latter included a lower proportion of PEA over the last 5 min and a higher proportion of ROSC over the last 5 min. Factors associated with PEA to VF/pVT development were age, weight, the proportion spent in VF/pVT or PEA the last 5 min, and the general transition intensity, while PEA recurrence from ROSC only depended on the general transition intensity.</AbstractText>The clinical course during pediatric cardiac arrest was mainly influenced by dynamic factors associated with time in PEA and ROSC. Transitions from PEA to ROSC seemed to be favored by deeper compressions.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,637 | Prognostic significance of right ventricular hypertrophy and systolic function in Anderson-Fabry disease. | Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) is a common finding in Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD), but the prognostic role of right ventricular (RV) involvement has never been assessed. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of RVH and RV systolic function in AFD.</AbstractText>Forty-five AFD patients (56% male patients) with extensive baseline evaluation, including assessment of RVH and RV systolic function, were followed-up for an average of 51.2 ± 11.4 months. RV systolic function was assessed by standard and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Cardiovascular events were defined as new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), sustained ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure, or pacemaker/implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation; renal events were defined as progression to dialysis and/or renal transplantation or significant worsening of glomerular filtration rate; and cerebrovascular events were defined as transient ischaemic attack or stroke. Fourteen patients (31.1%) presented RVH, while RV systolic function was normal in all cases. During the follow-up period, 13 patients (28.8%, 11 male) experienced 18 major events, including two deaths. Cardiovascular events occurred in eight patients (17.7%). The most common event was pacemaker/implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation (six patients, 13.3%), followed by AF (three cases, 6.6%). Only one case of worsening New York Heart Association class (from II to III and IV) was observed. Ischaemic stroke occurred in three cases (6.6%). Renal events were recorded in three patients (6.6%). At univariate analysis, several variables were associated with the occurrence of events, including RVH (HR: 7.09, 95% CI: 2.17 to 23.14, P = 0.001) and indexes of RV systolic function (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion HR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.62 to 0.96, P = 0.02; and RV tissue Doppler systolic velocity HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.61 to 0.93, P = 0.01). At multivariate analysis, proteinuria (HR:8.3, 95% CI: 2.88 to 23.87, P < 0.001) and left ventricular mass index (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.03, P = 0.03) emerged as the only independent predictors of outcome.</AbstractText>RVH and RV systolic function show significant association with clinical events in AFD, but only proteinuria and left ventricular mass index emerged as independent predictors of outcome. Our findings suggest that RV involvement does not influence prognosis in AFD and confirm that renal involvement and left ventricular hypertrophy are the main determinant of major cardiac and non-cardiac events.</AbstractText>© 2020 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,638 | Do age-associated changes of voltage-gated sodium channel isoforms expressed in the mammalian heart predispose the elderly to atrial fibrillation? | Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide. The prevalence of the disease increases with age, strongly implying an age-related process underlying the pathology. At a time when people are living longer than ever before, an exponential increase in disease prevalence is predicted worldwide. Hence unraveling the underlying mechanics of the disease is paramount for the development of innovative treatment and prevention strategies. The role of voltage-gated sodium channels is fundamental in cardiac electrophysiology and may provide novel insights into the arrhythmogenesis of AF. Na<sub>v</sub>1.5 is the predominant cardiac isoform, responsible for the action potential upstroke. Recent studies have demonstrated that Na<sub>v</sub>1.8 (an isoform predominantly expressed within the peripheral nervous system) is responsible for cellular arrhythmogenesis through the enhancement of pro-arrhythmogenic currents. Animal studies have shown a decline in Na<sub>v</sub>1.5 leading to a diminished action potential upstroke during phase 0. Furthermore, the study of human tissue demonstrates an inverse expression of sodium channel isoforms; reduction of Na<sub>v</sub>1.5 and increase of Na<sub>v</sub>1.8 in both heart failure and ventricular hypertrophy. This strongly suggests that the expression of voltage-gated sodium channels play a crucial role in the development of arrhythmias in the diseased heart. Targeting aberrant sodium currents has led to novel therapeutic approaches in tackling AF and continues to be an area of emerging research. This review will explore how voltage-gated sodium channels may predispose the elderly heart to AF through the examination of laboratory and clinical based evidence. |
16,639 | Atrial Tissue Pro-Fibrotic M2 Macrophage Marker CD163+, Gene Expression of Procollagen and B-Type Natriuretic Peptide. | Background Atrial tissue fibrosis is linked to inflammatory cells, yet is incompletely understood. A growing body of literature associates peripheral blood levels of the antifibrotic hormone BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) with atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigated the relationship between pro-fibrotic tissue M2 macrophage marker Cluster of Differentiation (CD)163+, atrial procollagen expression, and BNP gene expression in patients with and without AF. Methods and Results In a cross-sectional study design, right atrial tissue was procured from 37 consecutive, consenting, stable patients without heart failure or left ventricular systolic dysfunction, of whom 10 had AF and 27 were non-AF controls. Samples were analyzed for BNP and fibro-inflammatory gene expression, as well as fibrosis and CD163+. Primary analyses showed strong correlations (all <i>P</i><0.008) between M2 macrophage CD163+ staining, procollagen gene expression, and myocardial BNP gene expression across the entire cohort. In secondary analyses without multiplicity adjustments, AF patients had greater left atrial volume index, more valve disease, higher serum BNP, and altered collagen turnover markers versus controls (all <i>P</i><0.05). AF patients also showed higher atrial tissue M2 macrophage CD163+, collagen volume fraction, gene expression of procollagen 1 and 3, as well as reduced expression of the BNP clearance receptor NPRC (all <i>P</i><0.05). Atrial procollagen 3 gene expression was correlated with fibrosis and BNP gene expression was correlated with serum BNP. Conclusions Elevated atrial tissue pro-fibrotic M2 macrophage CD163+ is associated with increased myocardial gene expression of procollagen and anti-fibrotic BNP and is higher in patients with AF. More work on modulation of BNP signaling for treatment and prevention of AF may be warranted. |
16,640 | Efficacy of radiofrequency catheter ablation for premature ventricular contractions in children. | This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of transcatheter radiofrequency ablation (RFCA) in treating ventricular premature contractions (PVCs) in children, summarized the countermeasures during intraoperative ventricular fibrillation (VF), and improved the safety of ventricular premature treatment.</AbstractText>A retrospective analysis was conducted on 75 children with PVCs who received RFCA in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2010 to April 2019. Data including age, sex, body weight, ejection fraction, left ventricular end diastolic diameter, burden and number of PVCs/24 h, origin of PVCs, and its complications were collected. Paired t test was used to compare changes in cardiac function before and after surgery.</AbstractText>Among the 75 cases treated with RFCA, 68 were successfully ablated, giving a success rate of 90.67%. After ablation, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of the children was 69.13 ± 3.81%, which was significantly higher than that before surgery (69.13 ± 3.81% vs. 66.21 ± 3.22%, P = 0.012). One of the patients experienced VF during the operation, with no other complications. The initial locus of origin was the anterior septum of the right ventricular outflow tract, but VF occurred during the ablation process. Mean follow-up time was 39 ± 33 months, with two recurrent cases (2.94%).</AbstractText>Performing RFCA in children is safe and effective, with a low recurrence rate and few complications. VF is not an indication to cease surgery; the key to eliminating complications is repositioning the catheter and finding a more accurate origin point.</AbstractText> |
16,641 | Adult Monozygotic Twins With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Identical Disease Expression and Clinical Course. | A unique clinical circumstance involving middle-aged male identical twins with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) is reported. The concordance of morphologic (i.e., phenotype) findings and clinical course between the 2 patients is remarkable, including timing of the onset and progression of heart failure due to left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, frequency of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and beneficial response to surgical myectomy and Cox-Maze IV procedure (performed 14 days apart). Histopathology of resected ventricular septal muscle showed identical hallmarks of HC including myocyte disorganization, small vessel disease, and myocardial fibrosis. A missense variant of the CRYAB gene was identified as potentially relevant to the pathogenesis of HC in the twins. Taken together, these observations support a powerful genetic determinant for the morphologic and clinical expression of HC, with little or no environmental influence. |
16,642 | Burden and correlates of atrial fibrillation among hypertensive patients attending a tertiary hospital in Tanzania. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supra ventricular cardiac arrhythmia, which presents with variety of clinical symptoms. Hypertension increases risk of developing Atrial fibrillation by 1.5 fold. Together Atrial fibrillation and hypertension doubles the risk of morbidity and mortality. We aimed to determine the prevalence of AF and describe associated factors among hypertensive patients attending tertiary hospital in Tanzania.</AbstractText>A cross-sectional hospital-based study, involving 391 hypertensive patients visiting the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute was conducted between October to December 2017. Categorical variables were analyzed using chi square while student t- test was used to analyze continuous variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with AF. All analysis was two sided and p- value of < 0.05 was used to be not significant.</AbstractText>AF was detected in 40 (10.2%) patients. Atrial fibrillation was associated with BMI ≥ 25 (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.1-7.7, p-value 0.02), ejection fraction < 50% (OR 3.0, 95%CI 1.1-8.2, p-value 0.03), Left Atrial diameter > 40 mm (OR 9.4,95%CI 2.1-43.2, p-value < 0.01) and eGFR< 60 (OR 2.9, 95%CI 1.1-7.8, p-value 0.04).</AbstractText>Atrial fibrillation is considerably prevalent among the hypertensive sub-population. Prompt diagnosis and timely management is vital to prevent complications and premature mortality.</AbstractText> |
16,643 | [Surgical Treatment of Lung Cancer Combined with Interstitial Lung Disease]. | 【中文题目：肺癌合并间质性肺病的外科治疗】 【中文摘要：背景与目的 间质性肺病（interstitial lung disease, ILD）是一组主要累及肺间质和肺泡腔导致肺泡-毛细血管功能单位丧失的弥漫性肺疾病，常导致限制性通气功能障碍和弥散功能障碍。ILD基础上肺癌发病率增高，肺癌合并间质性肺病（lung cancer combined with ILD, LC-ILD）的手术风险明显增加。本研究旨在探讨LC-ILD外科治疗的安全性，总结围术期诊治经验。方法 回顾性分析2012年1月-2019年12月北京医院胸外科收治的LC-ILD行肺切除术的患者资料，总结其临床表现、影像、病理、手术安全性、围术期并发症和诊治经验。结果 本研究共纳入23例患者，男性20例（87.0%），平均年龄（69.1±7.8）岁，吸烟者19例（82.6%）。ILD类型包括特发性肺纤维化14例（60.9%）、特发性非特异性间质性肺炎7例（30.4%）、结缔组织病相关ILD 2例（8.7%）。肺癌病理包括腺癌7例（30.4%）、小细胞癌7例（30.4%）、鳞癌6例（26.1%）、小细胞癌混合鳞癌1例（4.3%）、大细胞癌2例（8.7%）。手术入路包括经电视胸腔镜16例（69.6%）和前外侧开胸7例（30.4%），切除方式包括肺叶切除13例（56.5%）、双肺叶切除1例（4.3%）和亚肺叶切除9例（39.1%）。术后90 d并发症11例（47.8%），其中肺部并发症8例（34.8%），ILD急性加重（acute exacerbation of ILD, AE-ILD）4例（17.4%），心房纤颤6例（26.1%），急性左心功能不全1例（4.3%）。术后90 d死亡2例（8.7%），死因均为AE-ILD。结论 LC-ILD以合并症多、肺功能差的高龄患者居多，手术风险明显增高。术前应充分控制ILD病情，术中尽量降低手术创伤，术后应特别关注肺部并发症和AE-ILD。AE-ILD预后差，治疗难度大，糖皮质激素有助于改善病情，早诊早治是治疗关键。】 【中文关键词：肺疾病；肺肿瘤；肺切除术；治疗结果】. |
16,644 | Appropriate Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Therapies Delivered 5 Years After End of Service. | We present the case of a 57-year-old man with a primary prevention internal cardioverter-defibrillator for severe nonischemic cardiomyopathy. At the time of elective replacement indicator, systolic function had fully recovered, and his generator was not changed. Nearly 5 years post-elective replacement indicator he received appropriate internal cardioverter-defibrillator therapies during a myocardial infarction. (<b>Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.</b>). |
16,645 | His Bundle Pacing in Amiodarone-Induced Complete Heart Block, QT Prolongation, and Torsade de Pointes. | A woman with ischemic cardiomyopathy presented with recurrent syncope. Electrocardiogram showed complete heart block and torsade de pointes (TdP) secondary to amiodarone, recently started for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. We describe a novel application of His bundle pacing that suppressed TdP and corrected the underlying left bundle branch block. (<b>Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.</b>). |
16,646 | Diastolic function assessment by echocardiography: A practical manual for clinical use and future applications. | Diastole is an important component of the cardiac cycle, during which time optimum filling of the ventricle determines physiological stroke volume ejected in the succeeding systole. Many factors contribute to optimum ventricular filling including venous return, left atrial filling from the pulmonary circulation, and emptying into the left ventricle. Left ventricular filling is also impacted by the cavity emptying function and also its synchronous function which may suppress early diastolic filling in severe cases of dyssynchrony. Sub-optimum LA emptying increases cavity pressure, causes enlarged left atrium, unstable myocardial function, and hence atrial arrhythmia, even atrial fibrillation. Patients with clear signs of raised left atrial pressure are usually symptomatic with exertional breathlessness. Doppler echocardiography is an ideal noninvasive investigation for diagnosing raised left atrial pressure as well as following treatment for heart failure. Spectral Doppler based increased E/A, shortened E-wave deceleration time, increased E/e', and prolonged atrial flow reversal in the pulmonary veins are all signs of raised left atrial pressure. Left atrial reduced myocardial strain is another correlate of raised cavity pressure (>15 mm Hg). In patients with inconclusive signs of raised left atrial pressure at rest, exercise/stress echocardiography or simply passive leg lifting should identify those with stiff left ventricular which suffers raised filling pressures with increased venous return. |
16,647 | Brugada Syndrome: Presentation and Management of the Atypical Patient in the Emergent Setting. | Brugada syndrome is a genetic disorder of the heart's electrical system that increases a patient's risk of sudden cardiac death. It is a syndrome most prevalent in Southeast Asians and is found 36 times more commonly in Asians than in Hispanics.</AbstractText>We report and discuss a case of a 68-year-old Hispanic male who presented with clinical and electrocardiogram abnormalities consistent with Brugada syndrome.</AbstractText>The patient's age and ethnicity represents an atypical presentation of this rare syndrome and the lack of reported studies in the literature pertaining to these demographics reflect this.</AbstractText>Further studies and characterizations are necessary as manifestations continue to be unearthed. As such, Brugada Syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis for a myriad of patient populations.</AbstractText>Copyright: © 2020 Nguyen et al.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,648 | Association between low pH and unfavorable neurological outcome among out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients treated by extracorporeal CPR: a prospective observational cohort study in Japan. | We aimed to identify the association of pH value in blood gas assessment with neurological outcome among out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients treated by extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR).</AbstractText>We retrospectively analyzed the database of a multicenter prospective observational study on OHCA patients in Osaka prefecture, Japan (CRITICAL study), from July 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016. We included adult OHCA patients treated by ECPR. Patients with OHCA from external causes such as trauma were excluded. We conducted logistic regression analysis to identify the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the pH value for 1 month favorable neurological outcome adjusted for potential confounders including sex, age, witnessed by bystander, CPR by bystander, pre-hospital initial cardiac rhythm, and cardiac rhythm on hospital arrival.</AbstractText>Among the 9822 patients in the database, 260 patients were finally included in the analysis. The three groups were Tertile 1: pH ≥ 7.030, Tertile 2: pH 6.875-7.029, and Tertile 3: pH < 6.875. The adjusted OR of Tertiles 2 and 3 compared with Tertile 1 for 1 month favorable neurological outcome were 0.26 (95% CI 0.10-0.63) and 0.24 (95% CI 0.09-0.61), respectively.</AbstractText>This multi-institutional observational study showed that low pH value (< 7.03) before the implementation of ECPR was associated with 1 month unfavorable neurological outcome among OHCA patients treated with ECPR. It may be helpful to consider the candidate for ECPR.</AbstractText>© The Author(s) 2020.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,649 | Electrical Restitution and Its Modifications by Antiarrhythmic Drugs in Undiseased Human Ventricular Muscle. | Re-entry is a basic mechanism of ventricular fibrillation, which can be elicited by extrasystolic activity, but the timing of an extrasystole can be critical. The action potential duration (APD) of an extrasystole depends on the proximity of the preceding beat, and the relation between its timing and its APD is called electrical restitution. The aim of the present work was to study and compare the effect of several antiarrhythmic drugs on restitution in preparations from undiseased human ventricular muscle, and other mammalian species.</AbstractText>Action potentials were recorded in preparations obtained from rat, guinea pig, rabbit, and dog hearts; and from undiseased human donor hearts using the conventional microelectrode technique. Preparations were stimulated with different basic cycle lengths (BCLs) ranging from 300 to 5,000 ms. To study restitution, single test pulses were applied at every 20th beat while the preparation was driven at 1,000 ms BCL.</AbstractText>Marked differences were found between the animal and human preparations regarding restitution and steady-state frequency dependent curves. In human ventricular muscle, restitution kinetics were slower in preparations with large phase 1 repolarization with shorter APDs at 1000 ms BCL compared to preparations with small phase 1. Preparations having APD longer than 300 ms at 1000 ms BCL had slower restitution kinetics than those having APD shorter than 250 ms. The selective IKr</sub> inhibitors E-4031 and sotalol increased overall APD and slowed the restitution kinetics, while IKs</sub> inhibition did not influence APD and electrical restitution. Mexiletine and nisoldipine shortened APD, but only mexiletine slowed restitution kinetics.</AbstractText>Frequency dependent APD changes, including electrical restitution, were partly determined by the APD at the BCL. Small phase 1 associated with slower restitution suggests a role of Ito</sub> in restitution. APD prolonging drugs slowed restitution, while mexiletine, a known inhibitor of INa</sub>, shortened basic APD but also slowed restitution. These results indicate that although basic APD has an important role in restitution, other transmembrane currents, such as INa</sub> or Ito</sub>, can also affect restitution kinetics. This raises the possibility that ion channel modifier drugs slowing restitution kinetics may have antiarrhythmic properties by altering restitution.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Árpádffy-Lovas, Baczkó, Baláti, Bitay, Jost, Lengyel, Nagy, Takács, Varró and Virág.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,650 | Comparison of Arrhythmia Detection by 24-Hour Holter and 14-Day Continuous Electrocardiography Patch Monitoring. | Although 24-hour Holter monitoring is routinely used for patients with suspected paroxysmal arrhythmia, its sensitivity in detecting such arrhythmias is insufficient.</AbstractText>We compared a 14-day electrocardiography (ECG) monitor patch - a single-use, noninvasive, waterproof, continuous monitoring patch - with a 24-hour Holter monitor in 32 consecutive patients with suspected arrhythmia.</AbstractText>The 14-day ECG patch was well tolerated, and its rates of detection of relevant arrhythmias on days 1, 3, 7, and 14 were 13%, 28%, 47%, and 66%, respectively. The detection rate of paroxysmal arrhythmias was significantly higher for the 14-day ECG patch than for the 24-hour Holter monitor (66% vs. 9%, p < 0.001). Among the 32 patients, 202 atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter episodes were detected in 6 patients (22%) with the 14-day ECG patch; however, only 1 atrial fibrillation episode was detected in a patient (3%, p < 0.05) with the 24-hour Holter monitor. Other clinically relevant arrhythmias recorded on the 14-day ECG patch included 21 (65.5%) episodes of supraventricular tachycardia, 2 (6.3%) long pause, and 2 (6.3%) ventricular arrhythmias. The mean dermal response score immediately after removal of the 14-day ECG patch from the patients was 0.64, which indicated minimal erythema.</AbstractText>The 14-day ECG patch was well tolerated and allowed for longer continuous monitoring than the 24-hour Holter monitor, thus resulting in improved clinical accuracy in the detection of paroxysmal arrhythmias. Future studies should examine the long-term effectiveness of 14-day ECG patches for managing selected patients.</AbstractText> |
16,651 | [Grey zones in cardiovascular adaptations to physical exercise: how to navigate in the echocardiographic evaluation of the athlete's heart]. | "Athlete's heart" represents a series of mechanisms through which cardiac chambers can adapt to physical activity. Echocardiography has a major role in sports cardiology and it can help physicians to investigate the so-called "grey zones", defined as diagnostic overlaps between athlete's heart and several cardiac diseases: wall thickness and left ventricular size in hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy, ventricular trabeculations in left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy, left atrial size and atrial fibrillation, right ventricular systolic dysfunction in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. The use of advanced ultrasound methods such as tissue Doppler and two-dimensional strain can be added to the classic echocardiographic assessment to complete a multi-parametric evaluation, guiding the sports physician and cardiologist in the correct framing of these patients. |
16,652 | Cardiac and neuronal HCN channelopathies. | Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are expressed as four different isoforms (HCN1-4) in the heart and in the central and peripheral nervous systems. In the voltage range of activation, HCN channels carry an inward current mediated by Na<sup>+</sup> and K<sup>+</sup>, termed I<sub>f</sub> in the heart and I<sub>h</sub> in neurons. Altered function of HCN channels, mainly HCN4, is associated with sinus node dysfunction and other arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and atrioventricular block. In recent years, several data have also shown that dysfunctional HCN channels, in particular HCN1, but also HCN2 and HCN4, can play a pathogenic role in epilepsy; these include experimental data from animal models, and data collected over genetic mutations of the channels identified and characterized in epileptic patients. In the central nervous system, alteration of the I<sub>h</sub> current could predispose to the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease; since HCN channels are widely expressed in the peripheral nervous system, their dysfunctional behavior could also be associated with the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. Given the fundamental role played by the HCN channels in the regulation of the discharge activity of cardiac and neuronal cells, the modulation of their function for therapeutic purposes is under study since it could be useful in various pathological conditions. Here we review the present knowledge of the HCN-related channelopathies in cardiac and neurological diseases, including clinical, genetic, therapeutic, and physiopathological aspects. |
16,653 | Management of Atrio-esophageal Fistula Induced by Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation Patients: a Case Series. | Atrio-esophageal fistula (AEF) is one of the most devastating complication of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) and surgical repair is strongly recommended. However, optimal surgical approach remains to be elucidated. We retrospectively reviewed AEF cases that occurred after RFCA in a single center and evaluated the clinical results of different surgical approach. Surgical or endoscopic repair was attempted in five AF patients who underwent RFCA. Atrio-esophageal fistula and mediastinal infection was not controlled in the patient who underwent endoscopic repair eventually died. Lethal cerebral air embolism occurred two days after surgery in a patient who underwent esophageal repair only. Primary surgical repair of both the left atrium (LA) and esophagus was performed in the remaining three patients. Among these three patients, two underwent external LA repair and the remaining had internal LA repair via open-heart surgery. External repair of the LA was unsuccessful and one patient dies and another had to undergo second operation with internal repair of the LA. The patient who underwent internal LA repair during the first operation survived without additional surgery. Furthermore, we applied veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) with artificial induction of ventricular fibrillation in this patient to prevent air and septic embolism and she had no neurologic sequelae. In summary, surgical correction can be considered preferentially to correct AEF. Open-heart surgical repair of LA from the internal side seems to be an acceptable surgical method. Application of VA-ECMO with artificial induction of ventricular fibrillation might be effective to prevent air and septic embolism. |
16,654 | Systemic Cardiac Troponin T Associated With Incident Atrial Fibrillation Among Patients With Suspected Stable Angina Pectoris. | Higher concentrations of cardiac troponin T are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and adverse cardiovascular prognosis. The relation with incident atrial fibrillation (AF) is less explored. We studied this association among 3,568 patients evaluated with coronary angiography for stable angina pectoris without previous history of AF. The prospective association between high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) categories (≤3 ng/L; n = 1,694, 4-9; n = 1,085, 10 to 19; n = 614 and 20 to 30; n = 175) and incident AF and interactions with the extent of CAD were studied by Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox regression. Risk prediction improvements were assessed by receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (ROC-AUC) analyses. During median (25 to 75 percentile) 7.3 (6.3 to 8.6) years of follow-up 412 (11.5%) were diagnosed with AF. In a Cox model adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and left ventricular ejection fraction, hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) were 1.53 (1.16 to 2.03), 2.03 (1.49 to 2.78), and 2.15 (1.40 to 3.31) when comparing the second, third, and fourth to the first hs-cTnT group, respectively (P for trend <0.000001). The strongest association between hs-cTnT levels and incident AF was found among patients without obstructive CAD (P<sub>int</sub> = 0.024) and adding hs-cTnT to established AF risk factors improved risk classification slightly (ΔROC 0.006, p = 0.044). In conclusion, in patients with suspected stable angina higher levels of hs-cTnT predicted increased risk of incident AF. This was most pronounced in patients without obstructive CAD suggesting an association not mediated by coronary disease. |
16,655 | Acute decompensated heart failure in a North Indian community hospital: Demographics, clinical characteristics, comorbidities and adherence to therapy. | Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is a growing public health problem in the community. Limited and often contradictory data are available from small studies published from India. Objective of this study was to report clinical characteristics, outcome, and discharge treatment strategies of these patients from a single community hospital.</AbstractText>In this observational prospective study from a multispeciality community hospital from North India, data were collected to include demographics, clinical characteristics, management strategies, and prognosis in 428 patients with ADHF admitted for more than two consecutive years (January 2017 through December 2018).</AbstractText>The study included 428 patients (mean age 61 ± 14 years) of whom 59% were male. ADHF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) was present in 77% subjects; Preserved (≥50%) and midrange ejection fraction (41-49%) with ADHF was observed in 12% and 11% patients, respectively. Ischemic etiology was noticed in 69% of the population. Prior myocardial revascularisation was observed in 47% of all and in 71% of those with ischemic heart disease. Major comorbidities included type 2 diabetes mellitus (60.7%), arterial hypertension (51%), anemia (54%), chronic kidney disease (29%), atrial fibrillation (16%), and hypothyroidism (9%). Mean hospital stay was 4.5 ± 3.2 days (inter-quartile range: 2-9 days). In-hospital mortality was 8.4% (36 patients) and there were additional 17% deaths over 6 months after discharge. At-discharge medication in those with HFrEF included anti-renin-angiotensin agents (57%), beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agents in 53%, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in 34%, ivabradine in 21%, and digoxin in 5%. Angiotensin-neprilysin inhibitor was prescribed to 21% patients at discharge. Ferric carboxymaltose use was in 7.5% of all despite a high prevalence of anemia (54%). Vaccination status at discharge was not available in majority.</AbstractText>The commonest cause of ADHF presenting to this community hospital was HFrEF of ischemic etiology. It is associated with significant in-hospital mortality. There is substantial under-use of guideline-recommended chronic heart failure therapies at hospital discharge. These data provide useful information which can be used to improve patient care and formulate future strategies for management of ADHF.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Cardiological Society of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,656 | Identification of patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source and low risk of new incident atrial fibrillation: The AF-ESUS score. | Only a minority of patients with Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source (ESUS) receive prolonged cardiac monitoring despite current recommendations. The identification of ESUS patients who have low probability of new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) could potentially support a strategy of more individualized allocation of available resources and hence, increase their diagnostic yield. We aimed to develop a tool that can identify ESUS patients who have low probability of new incident AF.</AbstractText>We performed multivariate stepwise regression in a pooled dataset of consecutive ESUS patients from three prospective stroke registries to identify predictors of new incident AF. The coefficient of each independent covariate of the fitted multivariable model was used to generate an integer-based point scoring system.</AbstractText>Among 839 patients (43.1% women, median age 67.0 years) followed-up for a median of 24.3 months (2999 patient-years), 125 (14.9%) had new incident AF. The proposed score assigns 3 points for age ≥ 60 years; 2 points for hypertension; -1 point for left ventricular hypertrophy reported at echocardiography; 2 points for left atrial diameter >40 mm; -3 points for left ventricular ejection fraction <35%; 1 point for the presence of any supraventricular extrasystole recorded during all available 12-lead standard electrocardiograms performed during hospitalization for the ESUS; -2 points for subcortical infarct; -3 points for the presence of non-stenotic carotid plaques. The rate of new incident AF during follow-up was 1.97% among the 42.3% of the cohort who had a score of ≤0, compared to 26.9% in patients with > 0 (relative risk: 13.7, 95%CI: 5.9--31.5). The area under the curve of the score was 84.8% (95%CI: 79.9--86.9%). The sensitivity and negative predictive value of a score of ≤0 for new incident AF during follow-up were 94.9% (95%CI: 89.3--98.1%) and 98.0% (95%CI: 95.8--99.3%), respectively.</AbstractText>The proposed AF-ESUS score has high sensitivity and high negative predictive value to identify ESUS patients who have low probability of new incident AF. Patients with a score of 1 or more may be better candidates for prolonged automated cardiac monitoring.</AbstractText>URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ Unique identifier: NCT02766205.</AbstractText> |
16,657 | Year in Review in Cardiac Electrophysiology. | In the past year, there have been numerous advances in our understanding of arrhythmia mechanisms, diagnosis, and new therapies. We have seen advances in basic cardiac electrophysiology with data suggesting that secretoneurin may be a biomarker for patients at risk of ventricular arrhythmias, and we have learned of the potential role of an NPR-C (natriuretic peptide receptor-C) in atrial fibrosis and the role of an atrial specific 2-pore potassium channel TASK-1 as a therapeutic target for atrial fibrillation. We have seen studies demonstrating the role of sensory neurons in sleep apnea-related atrial fibrillation and the association between bariatric surgery and atrial fibrillation ablation outcomes. Artificial intelligence applied to electrocardiography has yielded estimates of age, sex, and overall health. We have seen new tools for collection of patient-centered outcomes following catheter ablation. There have been significant advances in the ability to identify ventricular tachycardia termination sites through high-density mapping of deceleration zones. We have learned that right ventricular dysfunction may be a predictor of survival benefit after implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy. We have seen further insights into the role of His bundle pacing on improving outcomes. As our understanding of cardiac laminopathies advances, we may have new tools to predict arrhythmic event rates in gene carriers. Finally, we have seen numerous advances in the treatment of arrhythmias in patients with congenital heart disease. |
16,658 | Involvement of Autonomic Nervous System in New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation during Acute Myocardial Infarction. | <b>Background:</b> Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and associated with in-hospital and long-term mortality. However, the pathophysiology of AF in AMI is poorly understood. Heart rate variability (HRV), measured by Holter-ECG, reflects cardiovascular response to the autonomic nervous system and altered (reduced or enhanced) HRV may have a major role in the onset of AF in AMI patients. Objective: We investigated the relationship between autonomic dysregulation and new-onset AF during AMI. Methods: As part of the RICO survey, all consecutive patients hospitalized for AMI at Dijon (France) university hospital between June 2001 and November 2014 were analyzed by Holter-ECG <24 h following admission. HRV was measured using temporal and spectral analysis. <b>Results:</b> Among the 2040 included patients, 168 (8.2%) developed AF during AMI. Compared to the sinus-rhythm (SR) group, AF patients were older, had more frequent hypertension and lower left ventricular ejection fraction LVEF. On the Holter parameters, AF patients had higher pNN50 values (11% vs. 4%, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and median LH/HF ratio, a reflection of sympathovagal balance, was significantly lower in the AF group (0.88 vs 2.75 <i>p</i> < 0.001). The optimal LF/HF cut-off for AF prediction was 1.735. In multivariate analyses, low LF/HF <1.735 (OR(95%CI) = 3.377 (2.047-5.572))was strongly associated with AF, ahead of age (OR(95%CI) = 1.04(1.01-1.06)), mean sinus-rhythm rate (OR(95%CI) = 1.03(1.02-1.05)) and log NT-proBNP (OR(95%CI) = 1.38(1.01-1.90). <b>Conclusion:</b> Our study strongly suggests that new-onset AF in AMI mainly occurs in a dysregulated autonomic nervous system, as suggested by low LF/HF, and higher PNN50 and RMSSD values. |
16,659 | Left Ventricular Extracellular Volume Expansion Is Not Associated with Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Fibrillation-mediated Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction. | To determine whether left ventricular (LV) extracellular volume (ECV) expansion is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) or AF-mediated LV systolic dysfunction (LVSD) while minimizing the influence of biologic and imaging methodologic confounders.</AbstractText>This study examined the prevalence of LV ECV expansion in 137 patients with AF (mean age, 62 years ± 11 [standard deviation]; 92 male patients and 45 female patients; 83 paroxysmal and 54 persistent) who underwent preablation cardiovascular MRI. Biologic confounders were minimized by measuring the ECV fraction and excluding patients with severe LV hypertrophy, defined as wall thickness greater than 1.5 cm. Imaging confounders were minimized by using an arrhythmia-insensitive-rapid (AIR) cardiac T1 mapping pulse sequence. Other cardiac functional parameters, including LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and left atrial end-diastolic volume indexed to body surface area, were assessed using cine cardiovascular MRI. A substudy was conducted in 32 patients with no AF (mean age, 54 years ± 16) in sinus rhythm to establish control values and convert these values between the AIR sequence and literature-based modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) values.</AbstractText>The mean ECV was not significantly different (P</i> > .05) between patients with AF with a normal LVEF (24.5% ± 2.8; n</i> = 107), patients with AF with LVSD (24.5% ± 2.5; n</i> = 30), and patients with no AF (24.4% ± 3.8; n</i> = 32), but there was a significant interaction between ECV and CHA2</sub>DS2</sub>-VASc score (P</i> = .045). Compared with the literature data obtained from healthy control patients scanned using MOLLI, 99.3% of patients with AF had ECV below the fibrosis cutoff point (32.8% when converted from MOLLI T1 mapping to AIR T1 mapping), including a subset of patients with AF (n</i> = 28) with low CHA2</sub>DS2</sub>-VASc score (0/1 for men/women).</AbstractText>Study results suggest that an LV ECV expansion is not associated with AF or AF-mediated LVSD. Supplemental material is available for this article</i>. © RSNA, 2020See also the commentary by Stillman in this issue.</AbstractText>2020 by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,660 | Outcome assessment using estimation of left ventricular filling pressure in asymptomatic patients at risk for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. | High prevalence and lack of pharmacological treatment are making heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) a growing public health problem. No algorithm for the screening of asymptomatic patients with risk for HFpEF exists to date. We assessed whether HFA/ESC 2007 diagnostic criteria for HFpEF are helpful to investigate the cardiovascular outcome in asymptomatic patients.</AbstractText>We performed an analysis of the Diagnostic Trial on Prevalence and Clinical Course of Diastolic Dysfunction and Heart Failure (DIAST-CHF) that recruited patients with cardiovascular risk factors. All patients underwent a comprehensive diagnostic workup at baseline. Asymptomatic patients with preserved LVEF (>50%) were selected and classified according to HFA/ESC surrogate criteria for left ventricular elevated filling pressure (mean E/e' >15 or E/e' >8 and presence of either NT-proBNP > 220 ng/l, BNP > 200 ng/l or atrial fibrillation) into elevated filling pressure (FPe) or controls. Cardiovascular hospitalizations and all-cause death were assessed for both groups over a 10-year-follow-up.851 asymptomatic patients (age 65.5 ± 7.6 years, 44% female) were included in the analysis. FPe-patients were significantly older (p < 0.001), more often female (p = 0.003) and more often had a history of coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation and renal dysfunction (p < 0.001, respectively) compared to controls. Incidence of death was significantly higher in the FPe group after a 10-year follow-up (p < 0.001), whereas cardiovascular hospitalization did not differ between groups.</AbstractText>Asymptomatic patients that fulfill HFA/ESC diagnostic criteria for HFpEF are at higher risk of symptomatic HFpEF and have a worse 10-year-outcome than those who do not fulfill criteria.</AbstractText>© 2020 Published by Elsevier B.V.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,661 | A Cardioversion and Renal Dysfunction Cascade: Cardioversion for Atrial Fibrillation, Acute Kidney Injury, and Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation. | A 62-year-old woman with hypertension presented with progressively worsening shortness of breath due to acute decompensated heart failure with atrial fibrillation in rapid ventricular response. During admission, she was managed with diuretics, goal-directed medical therapy for heart failure with successful DCCV (Direct current cardioversion) for first episode atrial fibrillation. However, one day after discharge, the patient presented with a recurrence of dyspnea with atrial fibrillation in rapid ventricular response and a reduction in urine output with elevated serum creatinine. In this case report, we describe the syndrome of acute kidney injury following cardioversion for atrial fibrillation known as AFCARD (Atrial Fibrillation Cardioversion Associated with Renal Dysfunction), highlight its incidence and reflect on renal dysfunction subserving the recurrence of atrial fibrillation after successful DCCV. |
16,662 | Gender Differences in Rates of Arrhythmias, Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices, and Diagnostic Modalities Among Sarcoidosis Patients. | Introduction Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease with multiorgan involvement. Cardiac involvement may be asymptomatic or present clinically as heart failure, arrhythmias, or even sudden cardiac death. In this study, we compared gender differences in the prevalence of arrhythmias and associated outcomes in patients with sarcoidosis without established coronary artery disease. Methods The United States Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried from 2010 to 2014 to identify patients with sarcoidosis using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnosis code in patients >18 years. We excluded patients with a prior history of myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass graft. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results The sample consisted of 308,064 patients (mean age = 55.65 ± 11.28 years); they were mostly women (65.2%) and black (46.7%). In-hospital mortality in this cohort was 2.5%. The most common arrhythmia was atrial fibrillation (9.7%). The prevalence of ventricular fibrillation was 0.2%, ventricular tachycardia 2%, complete heart block 0.5%, and second-degree Mobitz type II (0.1%). Sudden cardiac death occurred in 0.7%. Rates of various cardiac devices implanted were: implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) (0.5%), cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator (CRT-D) (0.2%), pacemaker (0.4%). Rates of endomyocardial biopsy (EMB), radionuclide imaging, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.1%, respectively. Based on gender (male vs. female), the rates of arrhythmias, cardiac device implantation, and utilization of diagnostic modalities were: atrial fibrillation (41% vs 59%; p<0.001), ventricular fibrillation (50% vs 50%; p=0.983), ventricular tachycardia (55% vs 45%; p<0.001), complete heart block (48% vs 52%; p=0.3), second-degree Mobitz type II (37% vs 63%; p=0.706), sudden cardiac death (38% vs 62%; p<0.171), ICD (56% vs 44%; p<0.001), CRT-D (58% vs 42%; p=0.025), permanent pacemaker (40% vs 60%; p=0.066), EMB (55% vs 45%; p<0.001), radionuclide imaging (32% vs 68%; p=0.403), and cardiac MRI (41% vs 59%; p=0.396). In-hospital mortality was higher in females (64% vs 36%; p<0.001). Conclusion In our study, in-hospital death was more common in females. Females had higher rates of atrial fibrillation as compared to males, who were found to have a higher burden of ventricular tachycardia. Males had higher rates of ICD and CRT-D placement. Males also had EMB performed more commonly than females. |
16,663 | Measurement of Functional Capacity to Discriminate Clinical from Subclinical Heart Failure in Patients ≥65 Years of Age. | In order to show that reduced functional capacity in subclinical heart failure portends a higher risk of clinically overt (stage C) heart failure, we obtained the Duke activity status index (DASI) and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) in 814 patients (age 70 [interquartile range 67 to 74] years, 51% female) with nonischemic subclinical heart failure. Reduced functional capacity was defined as: (1) DASI-derived metabolic equivalents <7, (2) 6MWD <2 standard deviations below the age-based normative mean (excluding those with mobility impairment) and (3) reduced 6MWD with reclassification where DASI was discordant. Based on reduced functional capacity and left ventricular dysfunction (LVD), subjects were classified into; (1) Stage A heart failure (436 with neither LVD nor reduced functional capacity), (2) Stage A with reduced functional capacity (n = 80), (3) Stage B heart failure (182 with LVD but preserved functional capacity) and (4) early stage C heart failure (52 with LVD and reduced functional capacity). Outcome was assessed by Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and Cox proportional hazard ratios. After a median follow-up of 13 months [interquartile range 11 to 19]), 76 (9%) developed heart failure - 6% of Stage A, 10% of Stage A-reduced functional capacity, 9% of Stage B and 37% of early Stage C (p < 0.001). After adjustment (for heart failure risk score, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary disease and therapy), the hazard ratio for development of overt heart failure in early Stage C was 5.92 (95% confidence intervals 2.92 to 11.54, p < 0.001) compared with Stage A and 3.08 (95% confidence intervals 1.47 to 6.47, p = 0.003) compared with Stage B. |
16,664 | The Effect of Chest Compression Location and Occlusion of the Aorta in a Traumatic Arrest Model. | Recent evidence demonstrates that closed chest compressions directly over the left ventricle (LV) in a traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA) model improve hemodynamics and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) when compared with traditional compressions. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) also improves hemodynamics and controls hemorrhage in TCA. We hypothesized that chest compressions located over the LV would result in improved hemodynamics and ROSC in a swine model of TCA using REBOA.</AbstractText>Transthoracic echo was used to mark the location of the aortic root (traditional location) and the center of the LV on animals (n = 26), which were randomized to receive chest compressions in one of the two locations. After hemorrhage, ventricular fibrillation was induced to simulate TCA. After a period of 10 min of ventricular fibrillation, basic life support (BLS) with mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated and performed for 10 min followed by advanced life support for an additional 10 min. REBOA balloons were inflated at 6 min into BLS. Hemodynamic variables were averaged during the final 2 min of the BLS and advanced life support periods. Survival was compared between this REBOA cohort and a control group without REBOA (no-REBOA cohort) (n = 26).</AbstractText>There was no significant difference in ROSC between the two REBOA groups (P = 0.24). Survival was higher with REBOA group versus no-REBOA group (P = 0.02).</AbstractText>There was no difference in ROSC between LV and traditional compressions when REBOA was used in this swine model of TCA. REBOA conferred a survival benefit regardless of compression location.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,665 | Predictors of Physical Capacity 6 Months After Implantation of a Full Magnetically Levitated Left Ventricular Assist Device: An Analysis From the ELEVATE Registry. | In patients with a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device, preimplant predictors of poor physical performance are not well-described. We aimed to identify predictors of inability to walk more than 300 m on 6-minute walk test (6MWT) 6 months after HeartMate 3 implantation.</AbstractText>Using data from the European Registry of Patients Implanted With a Full Magnetically Levitated LVAD, patients with available 6MWT at 6 months after implantation were included (N = 194) and grouped according to 6MWT distance (6MWD) of >300 m (n = 150) or 6MWD of <300 m (n = 44). Patients walking <300 m were older (60 ± 10 vs 52 ± 12 years; P < .001), more often New York Heart Association functional class IV (63% vs 42%; P = .03), and more often had type 2 diabetes (43% vs 17%; P < .001) at implantation. Atrial fibrillation was seen in 57% in those with a 6MWT of <300 m vs 31% in those walking longer (P < .002). Further, hemoglobin and estimated glomerular filtration rate was lower in those walking <300 m (both P < .01). In multivariable regression analysis, independent predictors of a 6MWD of <300 m were: atrial fibrillation (odds ratio [OR], 3.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-8.67), older age (OR for 10-year increment, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.55-5.07), New York Heart Association functional class IV (OR, 3.37; 95% CI, 1.27-8.98), and Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support profile 1 or 2 (OR, 6.53; 95% CI, 1.92-22.19).</AbstractText>Six months after HeartMate 3 implantation, 77% of patients walked >300 meters in 6 minutes. Apart from age and measures of heart failure severity, atrial fibrillation at implantation is an independent predictor of low 6MWD at 6 months after implantation.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,666 | Long-term outcomes of ventricular tachycardia substrate ablation incorporating hidden slow conduction analysis. | Ventricular tachycardia substrate ablation (VTSA) incorporating hidden slow conduction (HSC) analysis allows further arrhythmic substrate identification.</AbstractText>The purpose of this study was to analyze whether the elimination of HSC electrograms (HSC-EGMs) during VTSA results in better short- and long-term outcomes.</AbstractText>Consecutive patients (N = 70; 63% ischemic; mean age 64 ± 14.6 years) undergoing VTSA were prospectively included. Bipolar EGMs with >3 deflections and duration <133 ms were considered as potential HSC-EGMs. Whenever a potential HSC-EGM was identified, double or triple ventricular extrastimuli were delivered. If a local potential showed up as a delayed component, it was annotated as HSC-EGM. Ablation was delivered at conducting channel entrances and HSC-EGMs. Radiofrequency time, ventricular tachycardia (VT) inducibility after VTSA, and VT/ventricular fibrillation recurrence at 24 months after the procedure were compared with data from a historical control group.</AbstractText>A total of 5076 EGMs were analyzed; 1029 (20.2%) qualified as potential HSC-EGMs, and 475 of them were tagged as HSC-EGMs. Scars in patients with HSC-EGMs (n = 43 [61.4%]) were smaller (32.2 [17-58] cm2</sup> vs 85 [41-92.4] cm2</sup>; P = .006) and more heterogeneous (core/scar area ratio 0.15 [0.05-0.44] vs 0.44 [0.33-0.57]; P = .017); 32.4% of HSC-EGMs were located in normal voltage tissue. Patients undergoing VTSA incorporating HSC analysis required less radiofrequency time (15.6 [8-23.1] vs 23.9 [14.9-30.8]; P < .001) and had a lower rate of VT inducibility after VTSA (28.6% vs 52.9%; P = .003) than did the historical controls. Patients undergoing VTSA incorporating HSC analysis showed a higher 2-year VT/ventricular fibrillation-free survival (75.7% vs 58.8%; log-rank, P = .046) after VTSA.</AbstractText>VTSA incorporating HSC analysis allowed further arrhythmic substrate identification (especially in the border zone and normal voltage areas) and was associated with increased VTSA efficiency and better short- and long-term outcomes.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,667 | QT interval greater than 460 ms in multiple electrocardiograms during follow-up in patients with Brugada syndrome: What does it contribute? | Corrected QT interval (QTc) >460 ms in the right precordial leads has been described as a predictor of malignant ventricular arrhythmias (MVA) in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS).</AbstractText>To assess the presence of QTc>460 ms in multiple electrocardiograms (ECGs) during follow-up as a predictor of recurrence of MVA in patients with BrS.</AbstractText>The study group included 43 patients with BrS and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. ECGs were performed serially between June 2000 and January 2017. QT interval was measured and QTc was obtained by Bazett's formula. The sample was divided into three groups: Group 1 (patients with no ECGs with QTc>460 ms); Group 2 (patients with only one ECG with QTc>460 ms); and Group 3 (patients with two or more ECGs with QTc>460 ms).</AbstractText>The following variables were more frequently observed in Group 3: family history of sudden death (p=0.023), previous history of cardiorespiratory arrest (p=0.032), syncope (p=0.039), documented MVA (p=0.002), and proportion of ECGs with coved-type ST interval during follow-up (p=0.002). In Group 3, 67% of BrS patients had events during follow-up, as opposed to only 22% of Group 1 and 14% of Group 2 (Group 1 vs. Group 2, p=0.33015; Group 1 vs. Group 3, p=0.04295; and Group 2 vs. Group 3, p=0.04155).</AbstractText>QTc>460 ms in more than one ECG during follow-up increases the risk of MVA events in patients with BrS.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,668 | Risk Factors for Mortality and Ventricular Tachycardia in Patients With Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. | Patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) have increased risk for mortality, sudden cardiac death, and ventricular tachycardia (VT). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to offer an updated analysis of risk factors following significant changes in surgical and perioperative management.</AbstractText>A meta-analysis based on the published literature between 2008 and 2018 was conducted. Endpoints were VT, cardiac mortality/VT, and all-cause mortality/VT. Studies with ≥100 patients and ≥10 events were included.</AbstractText>Fifteen studies including 7218 patients (average age 27.5 years) were analyzed. Risk factors for VT included older age (per 1 year, odds ratio [OR]: 1.039; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.025-1.053), older age at corrective surgery (per 1 year, OR: 1.034; CI: 1.017-1.051), previous palliative shunt (OR: 3.063; CI: 1.525-6.151), number of thoracotomies (OR: 1.416; CI: 1.249-1.604), longer QRS duration (per 1 ms, OR: 1.031; CI: 1.008-1.055), and at least moderate right-ventricular dysfunction (OR: 2.160; CI_ 1.311-3.560). Additional risk factors for cardiac death/VT were previous ventriculotomy (OR: 2.269; CI: 1.226-4.198), lower left-ventricular ejection fraction (per 1%, OR: 1.049; CI: 1.029-1.071), and higher right-ventricular end diastolic volume (per 1 mL/m2</sup>, OR: 1.009; CI: 1.002-1.016). Supraventricular tachycardia/atrial fibrillation was an additional risk factor for all-cause mortality/VT (OR: 1.939; CI: 1.088-3.457).</AbstractText>The study highlights the importance of preservation of biventricular systolic function on late outcomes. Ventricular function appears to have a greater impact on outcomes than the severity of pulmonary regurgitation alone in this patient population.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,669 | Atypical presentation of ventricular tachycardia. | Cardiac syncope and epileptic seizure are two very similar presentations and difficult to differentiate without a proper history, physical examination and investigations. In a former study, 10 out of 22 episodes of induced ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation can result in stereotypical tonic-clonic movement with varied electroencephalography changes. We present a case which was diagnosed as ventricular tachycardia from seizure-like attack. It is to emphasise the importance of including ventricular tachycardia among other differential diagnoses of seizure-like activity in a patient with cardiovascular risks. |
16,670 | The associations of geomagnetic storms, fast solar wind, and stream interaction regions with cardiovascular characteristic in patients with acute coronary syndrome. | It is shown the statistical associations between space weather pattern and humans' cardiovascular system. We investigated the association between space weather events and cardiovascular characteristics of 4076 randomly selected patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who were admitted for inpatient treatment in Kaunas city, Lithuania during 2000-2005. We hypothesized that days of the space weather events, 1-3 days after, and the period between two events, named as intersection days (1-3 days after the event, which coincided with 1-3 days before the event), might be associated with patients' cardiovascular characteristics. The multivariate logistic regression was applied, and the patients' risk was evaluated by odds ratio (OR), adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, the day of the week, and seasonality. During the intersection days of geomagnetic storms (GS), the risk of ACS increases in obese patients (OR=1.72, p = 0.008). The risk of ventricular fibrillation during admission was associated with stream interaction region (SIR) with a lag of 0-3 days (OR=1.44, p = 0.049) The risk of ACS in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation was associated with fast solar wind (FSW) (≥600 km/s) (lag 0-3 days, OR=1.39, p = 0.030) and with days of solar proton event (lag 0-3) going in conjunction with SIR (lag 0-3) (OR=2.06, p = 0.021). During days which were not assigned as GS with a lag of (-3 to 3) days, FSW (lag 0-3) was associated with the risk of ACS in patients with renal disease (OR=1.71, p = 0.008) and days of SIR - with the risk in patients with pulmonary disease (OR=1.53, p = 0.021). A SIR event, days between two space weather events, and FSW without GS may be associated with a risk to human health. |
16,671 | Electrocardiographic interpretation of pacemaker algorithms enabling minimal ventricular pacing. | Cardiac pacing from the apex of the right ventricle has been shown to result in left ventricular dysfunction, atrial fibrillation, and increased mortality. To counter these effects, one of the strategies developed is avoidance of ventricular pacing when not necessary, using programmable algorithms to minimize ventricular pacing. Seven algorithms are available from 5 manufacturers. Four of the manufacturers have mode conversion algorithms that pace AAI(R) but, in the presence of failed atrioventricular (AV) conduction, demonstrate algorithm-offset and convert to DDD(R) with ventricular pacing. Three manufacturers do not have mode conversion but rather AV extension to encourage AV conduction. Each of these algorithms has a unique design and, when ventricular pacing is present, will regularly schedule conduction testing to encourage AV conduction and hence algorithm-onset. All of these algorithms seem to violate the rule of AV conduction by allowing the AV delay for sensed ventricular events to be longer than for ventricular paced events. The result is frequently bizarre electrocardiographic (ECG) appearances that often are unique to the company's algorithm but also suggest pacemaker malfunction. This review highlights and illustrates the features of these algorithms as they appear on ECG, and discusses other situations that result in unintended ventricular pacing. |
16,672 | Novel two-lead cardiac resynchronization therapy system provides equivalent CRT responses with less complications than a conventional three-lead system: Results from the QP ExCELs lead registry. | The novel two-lead cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)-DX system utilizes a floating atrial dipole on the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator lead, and when implanted with a left ventricular (LV) lead, offers a two-lead CRT system with AV synchrony. This study compared complication rates and CRT response among subjects implanted with a two-lead CRT-DX system to those subjects implanted with a standard three-lead CRT-D system.</AbstractText>A total of 240 subjects from the Sentus QP-Extended CRT Evaluation with Quadripolar Left Ventricular Leads postapproval study were selected to identify 120 matched pairs based on similar demographic characteristics using a Greedy algorithm. The complication-free rate was evaluated as the primary endpoint. All-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalizations, device diagnostic data, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class improvement, and defibrillator therapy were evaluated from clinical data, in-office interrogations, and remote monitoring throughout the follow-up period. Complication-free survival favored the CRT-DX group with 92.5% without a major complication compared to 85.0% in the CRT-D cohort (P = .0495; 95% confidence interval: 0.1%-14.9%) over a mean follow-up of 1.3 and 1.4 years, respectively. Incidence of all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalizations, NYHA changes at 6 months postimplant, and percent of LV pacing during CRT therapy were similar in both device cohorts. Inappropriate shocks were more frequent in the CRT-D cohort with 5.8% of subjects receiving an inappropriate shock vs 0.8% in the CRT-DX cohort.</AbstractText>The results of this subanalysis demonstrate that the CRT-DX system can provide similar CRT responses and significantly fewer complications when compared to a similar cohort with a conventional three-lead CRT-D system.</AbstractText>© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,673 | Magnetic resonance imaging-guided cryoballoon ablation for left atrial substrate modification in patients with atrial fibrillation. | Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is an established modality for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). We report feasibility of left atrial (LA) substrate modification in addition to PVI both using the cryoballoon.</AbstractText>LA substrates and CBA-induced scar were assessed at baseline and 3 months after ablation using late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-MRI). Common periprocedural data including postablation LGE-MRI for evaluation of esophageal thermal injury, and CBA-associated complications were collected. Freedom from AF recurrence at 12 months was assessed using Holter and 30-day rhythm monitors.</AbstractText>In 26 patients (64 ± 11 years, 69% male; 27% persistent AF, CHADSVASC score: 2.3 ± 1.5; left ventricular ejection fraction: 56 ± 10%, oral anticoagulation with warfarin/direct oral anticoagulants: n = 11/15), referred for first-time AF ablation, CBA of the pulmonary veins and extrapulmonary LA substrates was performed (median: 12 [interquartile range {IQR}: 7-14] freezes over 1675 seconds [IQR: 1168-2160]). On LGE-MRI, significant postablation cryoballoon-induced LA scar (median: 19.4% [IQR: 13.4-24.7] in comparison to baseline preablation LA-LGE (median: 10.6% [IQR 3.1-13.1]; P = .01) was found. Freedom from AF recurrence at 12 months was 74.5% with median time-to-recurrence of 242 days (IQR: 172-298). In 15 of 26 (58%) patients, esophageal enhancement on the postablation MRI was present with full recovery after 3 months. No major periprocedural complications were observed.</AbstractText>LA substrate modification in addition to PVI using LGE-MRI-guided CBA is feasible but still experimental. The efficacy and safety have to be investigated in a prospective randomized trial.</AbstractText>© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,674 | Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Is Associated with the Risk of Thrombus in the Left Atrial Appendage in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with high risk of ischemic stroke. The most frequent thrombus location in AF is the left atrial appendage (LAA). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is a basic diagnostic examination in patients (pts) with AF.</AbstractText>To analyse the relations between basic echocardiographic features, well-established stroke risk factors, type of AF, and anticoagulation therapy with the incidence of left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT). Patients and Methods</i>. The study group consisted of 768 pts with AF (mean age, 63 years), admitted to three high-reference cardiology departments. Five hundred and twenty-three pts were treated with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and 227 (30%) with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). The subjects underwent TTE and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) before cardioversion or ablation.</AbstractText>LAAT was significantly more frequent in pts with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): in 10.6% (7 pts) with LVEF < 40% and in 9.0% (9 pts) with LVEF 40-49%, while only in 5.5% (33 pts) with LVEF > 50%. Compared to pts without LAAT, those with LAAT presented with lower LVEF and higher left atrial diameter (LAD). Multivariate logistic regression revealed the following variables as independent predictors of LAAT: previous bleeding, treatment with VKA, and LVEF.</AbstractText>LAAT is related to lower LVEF and higher LAD. LVEF is one of the independent predictors of LAAT. Even in the case of adequate anticoagulant therapy, it might be prudent to consider TEE before cardioversion or ablation in patients with low LVEF and LA enlargement, especially in the coexistence of other thromboembolic risk factors.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Beata Uziębło-Życzkowska et al.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,675 | Concordance and Discordance of Echocardiographic Parameters Recommended for Assessing the Severity of Mitral Regurgitation. | The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and American Society of Echocardiography guidelines recommend assessing several echocardiographic parameters when evaluating mitral regurgitation (MR) severity. These parameters can be discordant, making the assessment of MR challenging. The degree to which echocardiographic parameters of MR severity are concordant is not well studied.</AbstractText>We enrolled 159 patients in a prospective multicenter study. Eight parameters were included in this analysis: proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA)-derived regurgitant volume, PISA-derived effective regurgitant orifice area, vena contracta, color Doppler jet/left atrial area, left atrial volume index, left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, peak E wave, and the presence of pulmonary vein systolic reversal. Each echocardiographic parameter was determined to represent severe or nonsevere MR according to the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines. A concordance score was calculated as [Formula: see text] so that a higher score reflects greater concordance. There was no discordance when all the echocardiographic parameters agreed and high discordance when 3 or 4 parameters were discordant.</AbstractText>The mean concordance score was 75±14% for the entire cohort. There were 9 (6%) patients with complete agreement of all parameters and 61 (38%) with high discordance. There was greater discordance in patients with severe MR but no difference between primary versus secondary or central versus eccentric jets. There was an improvement in concordance when only considering PISA-based regurgitant volume, PISA-based effective regurgitant orifice area, and vena contracta with agreement in 68% of patients.</AbstractText>There was limited concordance between the echocardiographic parameters of MR severity, and the discordance was worse with more severe MR. Concordance improved when considering only 3 quantitative measures of vena contracta and PISA-based effective regurgitant orifice area and regurgitant volume. These findings highlight the challenges facing echocardiographers when assessing the severity of MR and emphasize the difficulty of using an integrated approach that incorporates multiple components. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04038879.</AbstractText> |
16,676 | Early diastolic strain rate by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography is a predictor of coronary artery disease and cardiovascular events in stable angina pectoris. | This study aimed to clarify the diagnostic and prognostic potential of strain rate in patients with suspected stable angina pectoris (SAP). Strain rate by 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) has been suggested to be able to diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD) and predict cardiovascular events in various patient groups. Prospectively enrolled patients (n = 296) with suspected SAP, no previous cardiac disease, and normal left ventricular ejection fraction were examined by 2DSTE, exercise ECG, and coronary angiography. Obstructive CAD was defined as stenosis ≥ 70% in ≥ 1 coronary artery on coronary angiography (n = 107). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) included myocardial infarction, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. In multivariable analysis adjusted for baseline data, conventional echocardiography, and Duke score, early diastolic strain rate (SRe) was independently associated with significant CAD with a 1.35 increased risk of having CAD per 0.1 decrease in SRe (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.03-1.76, P = 0.027). Peak velocity of early diastolic filling (E)/SRe was not associated with significant CAD (OR = 1.14, 95% CI 0.81-1.62, P  = 0.445). MACE occurred in 34 patients (12%) during follow-up (median 3.5 years) and both SRe (HR 1.26, 95% CI (1.07-1.49), P = 0.006) and E/SRe (HR 1.24, 95% CI (1.04-1.47), P = 0.017) were independent predictors after multivariable adjustment. In patients with suspected SAP, SRe by 2DSTE was independently associated with presence of CAD. In addition, SRe and E/SRe provided independent and incremental prognostic value for predicting future MACE. |
16,677 | Effect of gallic acid on electrophysiological properties and ventricular arrhythmia following chemical-induced arrhythmia in rat. | Ventricular arrhythmias including ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) are the most important causes of mortality rate. Gallic acid (GA) has beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of GA on electrophysiological parameters such as QRS complex, heart rate (HR), PR interval parameters, and ventricular arrhythmia following chemical induction in rat.</AbstractText>Seventy-two male rats were divided into 9 groups (n=8). Chronic groups pretreated by GA (10, 30, and 50 mg/kg, orally) and normal saline (N/S, 1 ml/kg, orally) for 10 days. At the start of the experiments (the first day) and on the final day of the experiments (tenth day), the electrocardiogram (lead II) was recorded. At acute group, GA (50 mg/kg), and anti-arrhythmic drugs such as propranolol, amiodarone, and verapamil injected via intravenous (IV). Then, arrhythmia induced by a CaCl2</sub> 2.5% solution (140 mg/kg, IV). Afterward, percentage of premature ventricular beats (PVB), VF, and VT were recorded at 1, and 3 min.</AbstractText>These findings showed that chronic and acute doses of GA have positive inotropic and anti-dysrhythmic effects by significant reduction of PVB, VT and VF on comparison with the control group. These actions are comparable to anti-arrhythmic drugs such as quinidine, propranolol, amiodarone, and verapamil. GA has not significant effect on chronotropic and dromotropic properties.</AbstractText>Findings showed that GA has antiarrhythmic, and inotropic characteristics that suggested GA has effective for mild congestive heart failure, and cardiovascular disorders patients which susceptible to incidence of arrhythmias.</AbstractText> |
16,678 | Successful management of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia using defibrillation and intravenous amiodarone therapy in a cat. | To describe the successful management of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) using cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including defibrillation, followed by continuous rate infusion of IV amiodarone, in a cat with cardiac arrest secondary to tachyarrhythmia.</AbstractText>A 12-year-old previously healthy neutered male Scottish Fold cat presented following an acute episode of collapse. Initial physical examination revealed severe tachycardia and cardiovascular collapse. Within a few minutes after arrival, the cat experienced cardiopulmonary arrest. Electrocardiographic assessment was suggestive of VF, and CPR was initiated, including 2 rounds of defibrillation (2 joule/kg each), resulting in return of spontaneous circulation with sustained VT. After procainamide and lidocaine failed to result in conversion to normal sinus rhythm (NSR), continuous IV amiodarone therapy was initiated, and NSR was achieved. Echocardiography demonstrated severe systolic dysfunction, and tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TICM) secondary to chronic VT was suspected; however, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or end-stage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy could not be ruled out. The patient was discharged the following day with oral amiodarone and pimobendan. During a recheck examination performed 7 months later the cat was in NSR, with no direct evidence of long-term amiodarone adverse effects. The cat died acutely at home 8 months after discharge.</AbstractText>This report is the first to describe the successful use of IV amiodarone in a cat to manage sustained VT following CPR.</AbstractText>© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2020.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,679 | Defibrillation threshold testing during implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation: 5-year follow-up. | Defibrillation threshold (DFT) testing is a routine practice in some Asian countries for patients receiving an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). However, there are few long-term data about the necessity of intraoperative DFT testing in an Asian population. We investigated the safety of DFT testing and the long-term clinical outcomes in Asian patients undergoing ICD implantation.</AbstractText>All patients undergoing de novo transvenous ICD implantation were randomized to undergo periprocedural DFT testing. The study included 67 patients (50 males; 51.5 ± 16.9 years) who underwent ICD implantation with (n = 33) or without (n = 34) intraoperative DFT testing between March 2012 and February 2014. We compared first-shock success, composite safety end points (the sum of complications recorded at 30 days), arrhythmic death, and all-cause mortality.</AbstractText>The baseline clinical characteristics and the procedural-related adverse event rate (3.0% with DFT vs. 0% with non-DFT, p = 0.214) did not differ between groups. The programmed output of the first shock was lower in the DFT testing group (22.9 ± 4.4 J vs. 25.3 ± 5.4 J, p = 0.007). However, there were no significant differences between groups for all-cause mortality (12.1% vs. 17.6%, p = 0.526) or first-shock success rate for ventricular arrhythmia (100% vs. 88.2%, p = 0.471).</AbstractText>There were no between-group differences in periprocedural safety, complications, and long-term clinical outcomes. Our results suggest that DFT testing in Asian patients allows reduction of the programmed output of the first shock, but does not affect long-term clinical outcomes.</AbstractText> |
16,680 | Secondary prevention and outcomes in outpatients with coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation or heart failure: a focus on disease overlap. | To assess secondary prevention and outcomes in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD), atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF), focusing on disease overlap.</AbstractText>We analysed the data of 10 517 outpatients with a diagnosis of CAD, AF and/or HF included in a prospective cohort study. Follow-up (median 3.2 years) was achieved in 10 478 (99.6%) patients. Seven mutually exclusive patient groups were formed: CAD alone (n=4303), AF alone (n=2604), CAD+AF (n=700), HF alone (n=513), HF+CAD (n=728), HF+AF (n=1087) and HF+CAD+AF (n=582).</AbstractText>Patients with disease overlaps represented 29.4% of the total population. The level of secondary prevention was high in all subgroups and in accordance with European class I - level A guidelines. Among patients with CAD, 99% received an antithrombotic and 91% received a statin. Among patients with AF, 81.7% were treated with an anticoagulant if indicated. Among HF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction <40%, 90.9% received a renin-angiotensin system antagonist and 91% a beta-blocker. Three-year all cause/cardiovascular mortality rates were: 6.4%/2%, 9.7%/3.3%, 15.6%/6.7%, 19.2%/9.4%, 24.3%/13.6%, 28%/15.7% and 35.4%/24.8%, for patients with CAD alone, AF alone, CAD+AF, HF alone, HF+CAD, HF+AF and HF+CAD+AF, respectively. In all groups with HF, observed all-cause mortality was higher (p<0.0001) than expected mortality for age-matched, gender-matched and geography-matched persons. In contrast, observed mortality was lower than expected for patients with CAD alone and AF alone (p<0.0001).</AbstractText>In a context of adequate secondary prevention, overlap between diseases is a frequent and high-risk situation with incremental increases in mortality. These patients deserve specific attention.</AbstractText>© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,681 | Assessment of atrial conduction time by Doppler tissue imaging in hypertensive patients. | Hypertension is the first cause of atrial fibrillation. Its onset is explained by intricate mechanisms such as atrial conduction impairment.</AbstractText>To evaluate atrial conduction by tissue Doppler imaging in hypertensive patients compared to a control group.</AbstractText>This is a comparative prospective study performed in the cardiology department of the FSI hospital   enrolling 55 patients with hypertension and 55 controls. All of them underwent a complete echocardiocardiography exam with Doppler tissue imaging. We measured intraatrial and interatrial electromechanical delay by Pulsed Tissue Doppler. Statical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 22.0. Comparison of means was made with t student test.</AbstractText>Left ventricular mass and septal thikness were more important in the hypertensive group. Mitral A wave was greater in hypertensive group compared to controls (7,1cm/s vs 5,6cm/s; p<0,0001; respectively). Left atrial volume was of 32,7±6,8mL/m² in hypertensives vs 29,5±4,3 mL/m² in controls (p=0,006). Doppler Tissue study showed homogeneous statistically significant elongation of atrial conduction times in hypertensive patients compared to controls: interatrial time (16.8±7.8ms vs 12.4±4,2ms, p<0.0003) and left intraatrial (27.6±8.6ms vs 19.0±4.3ms, p<0.0001) and right intraatrial time (10.8±6.0ms vs 6.6±2.9ms, p<0.0001; respectively for hypertensive and control subjects. There was a significant correlation between measured intraatrial and interatrial electromechanical delays and duration of hypertension, indexed left atrial volume ans indexed left ventricular mass (r 0.27-0.41, p<0.001).</AbstractText>Atrial conduction time is significantly longer in hypertensive patients. Impairment of atrial conduction may be predictive of atrial fibrillation and should prompt closer surveillance to detect this arrhythmia in these patients.</AbstractText> |
16,682 | Digoxin therapeutic drug monitoring: age influence and adverse events. | Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside, used to control rapid ventricular rates in atrial fibrillation and to reduce the hospitalizations due to heart failure. Digoxin has a narrow therapeutic range. So, in the treatment of older patients (≥ 65 years), it is important to set the optimal dose of digoxin to prevent toxicity and therapeutic drug monitoring of digoxin trough plasmatic concentration (C0) may be useful.</AbstractText>To assess measured C0, to evaluate age influence on digoxin pharmacokinetic parameters and to report adverse events in patients administered digoxin.</AbstractText>It consisted in a retrospective study. We included all the patients addressed to the department of clinical pharmacology for digoxin C0 measurement by an automated fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Therapeutic ranges of digoxin C0 were: 1 to 2.5 ng.mL-1 in children, 0.8 to 2 ng.mL-1 in adults and 0.5 to 0.9 ng.mL-1 in older adults (≥ 65 years) in atrial fibrillation and heart failure.</AbstractText>We collected 183 samples from 132 patients. Sex ratio M/W was 0.47. Mean age was 60 years and 57% of patients were older adults. Mean dose of digoxin was 0.3 mg.day-1. In older adults, 45% were administered daily doses over 0.125 mg.day-1. Mean digoxin C0 was 1.6 ng.mL-1. There was more supra-therapeutic C0 in older adults than younger ones (p<0.0001).There was no correlation between C0 and daily dose of digoxin. Adverse events, mainly cardiac and digestive, were reported in 47 patients (36%), among this population 47% were older adults.</AbstractText>TDM is useful to prevent toxicity, mainly in older adults where diagnosis may be difficult to establish.</AbstractText> |
16,683 | [Combined Approach for Management of the Chronic Heart Failure with Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction and Permanent Atrial Fibrillation: a Case Report]. | The article described a clinical case of a patient with chronic heart failure (CHF) with preserved ejection fraction (CHF-PEF) and permanent normosystolic atrial fibrillation (AF). A 73 year-old man (body mass index, 26.4 kg /m2) with permanent normosystolic AF (duration, 10 years) was hospitalized for augmenting of CHF symptoms. The patient had NYHA II-III functional class CHF and a history of long-standing arterial hypertension. The patient received chronic therapy according to the effective guidelines (angiotensin receptor blockers, diuretics, beta-blockers, and new oral anticoagulants). Transthoracic echocardiography showed a normal ejection fraction (EF) (57 %), a moderate enlargement of the left atrium (48 mm), and moderate left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of left atrial AF was performed. For preparation to the RFCA, the patient was administered propanorm two weeks prior to the procedure. Following external electrical cardioversion (ECV) after RFCA, sinus rhythm did not recover. The patient was prescribed amiodarone, and repeat ECV was performed in a month, which resulted in successful recovery of sinus rhythm. However, due to an increase in serum thyrotropic hormone, amiodaron was replaced with the sotalol therapy (240 mg/day). This resulted in development of symptomatic sinus bradycardia and AF relapse at 3 days after ECV. A dual-chamber cardioverter defibrillator was implanted to the patient; in another three months, repeat AF RFCA was performed with successful recovery of sinus rhythm. During the cardioverter testing for one year, the patient had one more AF episode, which was stopped by external ECV. Also, a 6-hour AF episode occurred at three months after the repeat RFCA. Symptoms of CHF disappeared by the 12th month. The combination therapy administered to the patient with normosystolic permanent AF and preserved EF, which included a pathogenetic therapy for CHF, antiarrhythmic drugs, implantation of a dual-chamber ECV, two sessions of AF RFCA, and repeat external ECVs, provided considerable improvement of CHF symptoms and stable sinus rhythm during a one-year follow-up. The return to sinus rhythm after 10 years of permanent AF necessitated changing the arrhythmia diagnosis to long-standing, persistent AF. |
16,684 | Leadless pacemaker use in a patient with a durable left ventricular assist device. | There is limited known safety and efficacy of leadless pacemaker device use in patients with durable left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). We present a case of a pacemaker-dependent LVAD patient with infection of permanent transvenous pacemaker who underwent successful implantation of Micra transcatheter pacing system (Medtronic). |
16,685 | Short-term outcomes of on- vs off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with left ventricular dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. | Does the manipulation of the off-pump CABG (OPCAB) in patient with depressed left ventricular function is better than on-pump CABG (ONCAB) approach in in-hospital mortality and morbidities? Here we undertook a meta-analysis of the best evidence available on the comparison of primary and second clinical outcomes of the off-pump and on-pump CABG.</AbstractText>Systematic literature reviewer and meta-analysis.</AbstractText>PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science and Cochrane Center Registry of Controlled Trials were searched the studies which comparing the use of the off-pump CABG(OPCAB) and on-pump CABG (ONCAB) for patients with LVD during January 1990.1 to January 2018.</AbstractText>All observation studies and randomized controlled trials comparing on-pump and off-pump as main technique for multi-vessel coronary artery disease (defined as severe stenosis (>70%) in at least 2 major diseased coronary arteries) with left ventricular dysfunction(defined as ejection fraction (EF) 40% or less) were included.</AbstractText>Authors will screen and select the studies extract the following data, first author, year of publication, trial characters, study design, inclusion and exclusion criteria, graft type, clinical outcome, assess the risk of bias and heterogeneity. Study-specific estimates will pool through the modification of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for the quality of study and while leave-one-out analysis will be used to detect the impact of individual studies on the robustness of outcomes.</AbstractText>Among the 987 screened articles, a total of 16 studies (32,354 patients) were included. A significant relationship between patient risk profile and benefits from OPCAB was found in terms of the 30-day mortality (odds ratio [OR], 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73-0.97; P = 0.02), stroke (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.55-0.86; P = 0.00), myocardial infarction (MI) (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.53-0.96; P = 0.02), renal failure (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.55-0.93; P = 0.01), pulmonary complication (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.52-0.90; P = 0.01), infection (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.49-0.91; P = 0.00),postoperative transfusion (OR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.08-0.84; P = 0.02) and reoperation for bleeding (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.41-0.75; P = 0.00). There was no significant difference in atrial fibrillation (AF) (OR, 0.96;95%; CI, 0.78-1.41; P = 0.56) and neurological dysfunction (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.49-1.57; P = 0.65).</AbstractText>Compared with the on-pump CABG with LVD, using the off-pump CABG is a better choice for patients with lower mortality, stroke, MI, RF, pulmonary complication, infection, postoperative transfusion and reoperation for bleeding. Further randomized studies are warranted to corroborate these observational data.</AbstractText> |
16,686 | [On-pump total arterial revascularization in coronary artery disease patients with left ventricular dysfunction: a multi-center retrospective study]. | <b>Objective:</b> To evaluate the clinical outcomes of on-pump total arterial revascularization with bilateral radial artery (BRA) and left internal mammary artery (LIMA) as conduits in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients with left ventricular dysfunction (LVD). <b>Methods:</b> All the perioperative medical records and follow-up results of coronary artery disease patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40% undergoing CABG from 24 heart centers of 15 provinces and autonomous regions in China between July 2015 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. <b>Results:</b> A total of 87 consecutive patients (55 males and 32 females) underwent on-pump CABG with BRA and LIMA, with a mean age of (57.5±9.1) years old. There were 22 patients complicated with primary hypertension, 12 with diabetes mellitus, 8 with peripheral vascular disease, 7 with chronic obstructive lung disease, 12 with mild renal injury and 3 with partial aortic calcification. There were 43 cases with in-stent stenosis, and 21 had left main disease. The mean LVEF and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) was (35.5±7.3)% and (65.5±2.6) mm, respectively. The mean graft number, aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass duration was 3.2±0.9, (90.5±22.7) min and (113.4±19.2) min, respectively. There were 32 mitral and 9 aortic valve replacements, and 5 tricuspid annuloplasties. Prophylactic intra-aortic balloon pumps were implanted in 27 patients. There were 2 operative deaths from acute heart failure. After surgery, there were 15 cases of atrial fibrillation, 1 case of acute kidney injury, 1 case of acute myocardial infarction, and 1 cases of stroke. All the patients fulfilled the follow-up, with a mean time of (39.5±7.7) months. At 3 months after surgery, LVEDD was decreased and LVEF was improved significantly compared with pre-operative indicators [(53.0±1.5) mm vs (65.5±2.6) mm, <i>t=</i>9.51 <i>P=</i>0.02; (45.2±3.3)% vs (35.5±7.3)%, <i>t=</i>13.79, <i>P=</i>0.001]. No major cardiac events were reported during the follow-up. At (30.5±7.4) months after surgery, 62.4% of patients (53/85) underwent coronary CT angiography examination, and the results indicated that the graft patency was 98.8%, with only one case of RA occlusion occurred. <b>Conclusion:</b> In selected patients of LVD, on-pump total arterial revascularization with BRA and LIMA conduits was proved to be safe and effective.</Abstract><AuthorList CompleteYN="Y"><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Liu</LastName><ForeName>D X</ForeName><Initials>DX</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563003, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Chen</LastName><ForeName>X J</ForeName><Initials>XJ</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, Wuhan First Hospital, Tongji Medical School of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Zheng</LastName><ForeName>B S</ForeName><Initials>BS</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Cao</LastName><ForeName>Y</ForeName><Initials>Y</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, Gaozhou People's Hospital, Gaozhou 525200, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Chen</LastName><ForeName>K M</ForeName><Initials>KM</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, Gaozhou People's Hospital, Gaozhou 525200, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Shi</LastName><ForeName>C</ForeName><Initials>C</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233004, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Lin</LastName><ForeName>Y</ForeName><Initials>Y</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Cao</LastName><ForeName>G Q</ForeName><Initials>GQ</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250002, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Li</LastName><ForeName>W D</ForeName><Initials>WD</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Luo</LastName><ForeName>J H</ForeName><Initials>JH</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the 989th Hospital of PLA Joint Logistics, Luoyang 471031, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Yin</LastName><ForeName>X Q</ForeName><Initials>XQ</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Medical University of Traditional Medicine, Changsha 610072, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Cao</LastName><ForeName>Q S</ForeName><Initials>QS</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, the First affiliated Hospital of Henan Scientific & Technological University, Luoyang 471003, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Lei</LastName><ForeName>Y S</ForeName><Initials>YS</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250014, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Yang</LastName><ForeName>W K</ForeName><Initials>WK</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital of Jiangxi Province, Ganzhou 341000, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Zhou</LastName><ForeName>J W</ForeName><Initials>JW</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cangzhou Central Hospital of Hebei Province, Cangzhou 061001, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Wei</LastName><ForeName>W L</ForeName><Initials>WL</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Guangxi Liuzhou Worker's Hospital, Liuzhou 545005, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Wang</LastName><ForeName>G L</ForeName><Initials>GL</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Guangxi Liuzhou Railway Hospital, Liuzhou 545007, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Liu</LastName><ForeName>D B</ForeName><Initials>DB</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Hu</LastName><ForeName>M S</ForeName><Initials>MS</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University, Hengyang 421001, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Lu</LastName><ForeName>H H</ForeName><Initials>HH</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Hunan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Medicine, Zhuzhou 412000, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Yang</LastName><ForeName>M</ForeName><Initials>M</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou 225001, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Song</LastName><ForeName>B G</ForeName><Initials>BG</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an 710061, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Wang</LastName><ForeName>H C</ForeName><Initials>HC</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Wang</LastName><ForeName>Z D</ForeName><Initials>ZD</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, Linfen People's Hospital, Linfen 041000, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Chen</LastName><ForeName>Q S</ForeName><Initials>QS</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550001, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author></AuthorList><Language>chi</Language><PublicationTypeList><PublicationType UI="D016428">Journal Article</PublicationType></PublicationTypeList></Article><MedlineJournalInfo><Country>China</Country><MedlineTA>Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi</MedlineTA><NlmUniqueID>7511141</NlmUniqueID><ISSNLinking>0376-2491</ISSNLinking></MedlineJournalInfo><CitationSubset>IM</CitationSubset><MeshHeadingList><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D000368" MajorTopicYN="N">Aged</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D002681" MajorTopicYN="N" Type="Geographic">China</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D003324" MajorTopicYN="Y">Coronary Artery Disease</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D005260" MajorTopicYN="N">Female</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D006801" MajorTopicYN="N">Humans</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D008297" MajorTopicYN="N">Male</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D008875" MajorTopicYN="N">Middle Aged</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D012189" MajorTopicYN="N">Retrospective Studies</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D013318" MajorTopicYN="N">Stroke Volume</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D016896" MajorTopicYN="N">Treatment Outcome</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D018487" MajorTopicYN="Y">Ventricular Dysfunction, Left</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D016277" MajorTopicYN="N">Ventricular Function, Left</DescriptorName></MeshHeading></MeshHeadingList><OtherAbstract Type="Publisher" Language="chi"><b>目的：</b> 探讨运用双桡动脉（RA）与左乳内动脉（LIMA）桥行体外循环下全动脉冠状动脉旁路移植（CABG）术治疗左室功能低下（左室射血分数≤40%）冠心病患者的效果。 <b>方法：</b> 收集15个省、自治区24家心脏中心2015年7月至2019年12月间对左室功能低下冠心病患者行体外循环下全动脉CABG的临床资料，对患者围手术期资料及随访结果进行回顾性分析。 <b>结果：</b> 共纳入87例患者，男55例，女32例，年龄（57.5±9.1）岁。合并原发性高血压22例，糖尿病12例，周围血管病8例，慢性阻塞性肺疾病7例，轻度肾损害12例，升主动脉钙化3例。合并支架内狭窄者43例，左主干病变21例。术前左室射血分数（35.5±7.3）%，左室舒张末期内径（65.5±2.6）mm。远端吻合口（3.2±0.9）个，升主动脉阻断时间（90.5±22.7）min，体外循环时间（113.4±19.2）min。二尖瓣置换32例，主动脉瓣置换9例，三尖瓣成形5例；27例预防性植入主动脉内球囊反搏（IABP），2例死于急性心力衰竭，手术死亡率2.3%（2/87）。术后房颤15例、脑卒中1例、急性肾功能不全1例、急性心肌梗死1例。术后随访（39.5±7.7）个月，随访率100%，随访中无死亡，无重要心血管事件发生；术后3个月左室舒张末期内径减小[（53.0±1.5）mm比（65.5±2.6）mm，<i>t=</i>9.51，<i>P=</i>0.02]，左室射血分数提高[（45.2±3.3）%比（35.5±7.3）%，<i>t=</i>13.79，<i>P=</i>0.001]；心绞痛分级术后亦有明显改善（≤2级者：98.8%比5.7%，χ(2)=17.21，<i>P=</i>0.001）。共有62.4%（53/85）的患者于术后（30.5±7.4）个月接受CT血管造影（CTA）检查，仅1例RA桥狭窄，通畅率98.8%。 <b>结论：</b> 在选择合适的病例中，双RA与LIMA的全动脉CABG术治疗冠心病伴左室功能低下安全有效。. |
16,687 | [Impact of left ventricle remodeling on perioperative risk and short-term prognosis in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting]. | <b>Objective:</b> To explore the impact of left ventricle remodeling on perioperative risk and short-term survival in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). <b>Methods:</b> A total of 78 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients (54 males, 24 females) with symptoms and signs of heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)<40% were consecutively enrolled from January 2014 to December 2018 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital. The average age was (59±8) years old. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed to measure LVEF and left ventricle end-systolic volume index (LVESVI) during hospitalization, and the average LVESVI was (92±18) ml/m(2). According to the mean value of LVESVI, the patients were divided into 2 groups: mild left ventricle remodeling group (group M, <i>n=</i>46, LVESVI<92 ml/m(2)) and severe left ventricle remodeling group (group S, <i>n=</i>32, LVESVI≥92 ml/m(2)). The follow-up period was (30±12) months. Operative mortality, perioperative complications and long-term survival were compared between the two groups. <b>Results:</b> Perioperative mortality was 5.1% (4/78), which was significantly higher in group S than that of group M (9.4% vs 2.2%, <i>P=</i>0.03). The proportion of patients with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) was higher in group S than that of group M during the perioperative period (62.5% vs 36.9%, <i>P<</i>0.01). Compared with patients in group M, those with severe left ventricle remodeling were more susceptible to atrial fibrillation after surgery (25.0% vs 6.5%, <i>P=</i>0.02). The mean follow-up time was (30±12) months. There was no difference in major adverse cardiac event (MACE)-free survival in 12 month, 24 month and 36 month between the two groups (100% vs 100%, 87.9% vs 92.1%, 80.3% vs 78.3%, <i>P=</i>0.68). <b>Conclusion:</b> Left ventricular remodeling increases the perioperative mortality and complications of patients with ischemic HFrEF undergoing CABG, but it has no impact on short-term survival.</Abstract><AuthorList CompleteYN="Y"><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Cao</LastName><ForeName>J</ForeName><Initials>J</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Dang</LastName><ForeName>H M</ForeName><Initials>HM</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Song</LastName><ForeName>Y</ForeName><Initials>Y</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Wu</LastName><ForeName>L S</ForeName><Initials>LS</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Liu</LastName><ForeName>D</ForeName><Initials>D</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Huang</LastName><ForeName>Q</ForeName><Initials>Q</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author><Author ValidYN="Y"><LastName>Dong</LastName><ForeName>R</ForeName><Initials>R</Initials><AffiliationInfo><Affiliation>Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.</Affiliation></AffiliationInfo></Author></AuthorList><Language>chi</Language><PublicationTypeList><PublicationType UI="D016428">Journal Article</PublicationType></PublicationTypeList></Article><MedlineJournalInfo><Country>China</Country><MedlineTA>Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi</MedlineTA><NlmUniqueID>7511141</NlmUniqueID><ISSNLinking>0376-2491</ISSNLinking></MedlineJournalInfo><CitationSubset>IM</CitationSubset><MeshHeadingList><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D000368" MajorTopicYN="N">Aged</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D001026" MajorTopicYN="N">Coronary Artery Bypass</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D005260" MajorTopicYN="N">Female</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D006333" MajorTopicYN="Y">Heart Failure</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D006801" MajorTopicYN="N">Humans</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D008297" MajorTopicYN="N">Male</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D008875" MajorTopicYN="N">Middle Aged</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D011379" MajorTopicYN="N">Prognosis</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D012189" MajorTopicYN="N">Retrospective Studies</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D013318" MajorTopicYN="N">Stroke Volume</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D016896" MajorTopicYN="N">Treatment Outcome</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D018487" MajorTopicYN="Y">Ventricular Dysfunction, Left</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D016277" MajorTopicYN="N">Ventricular Function, Left</DescriptorName></MeshHeading><MeshHeading><DescriptorName UI="D020257" MajorTopicYN="N">Ventricular Remodeling</DescriptorName></MeshHeading></MeshHeadingList><OtherAbstract Type="Publisher" Language="chi"><b>目的：</b> 探讨左室重塑对射血分数降低型心衰（HFrEF）患者冠状动脉旁路移植（CABG）围手术期风险及近期生存率的影响。 <b>方法：</b> 连续收集北京安贞医院心外科11病房2014年1月至2018年12月入院，左室射血分数（LVEF）<40%，合并心衰症状和体征的冠心病患者78例，其中男54例，女24例，年龄（59±8）岁。住院期间行经胸超声心动图检查测定LVEF及左室收缩末期容积指数（LVESVI），患者LVESVI（92±18）ml/m(2)。以全组患者LVESVI的平均值92 ml/m(2)为界值分为两组：轻度左室重塑组（46例）定义为LVESVI<92 ml/m(2)，重度左室重塑组（32例）定义为LVESVI≥92 ml/m(2)。术后随访（30±12）个月，比较两组患者手术死亡率、围手术期并发症及无主要不良心血管事件（MACE）生存率。 <b>结果：</b> 围手术期死亡率5.1%（4/78）。重度左室重塑组患者围手术期死亡率高于轻度左室重塑组（9.4%比2.2%，<i>P=</i>0.03），同时重度左室重塑组患者术后应用主动脉内球囊反搏（IABP）比例较高（62.5%比36.9%，<i>P<</i>0.01），术后房颤发生率较高（25.0%比6.5%，<i>P=</i>0.02）。术后随访结果显示，轻度左室重塑组患者与重度左室重塑组患者相比，12、24及36个月无MACE事件生存率差异无统计学意义（100%比100%，87.9%比92.1%，80.3%比78.3%，<i>P=</i>0.68）。 <b>结论：</b> 左室重塑增加HFrEF患者CABG围手术期并发症及死亡率，但对患者近期无MACE事件生存率无明显影响。. |
16,688 | Pharmacologic TWIK-Related Acid-Sensitive K+ Channel (TASK-1) Potassium Channel Inhibitor A293 Facilitates Acute Cardioversion of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in a Porcine Large Animal Model. | Background The tandem of P domains in a weak inward rectifying K+ channel (TWIK)-related acid-sensitive K<sup>+</sup> channel (TASK-1; hK<sub>2P</sub>3.1) two-pore-domain potassium channel was recently shown to regulate the atrial action potential duration. In the human heart, TASK-1 channels are specifically expressed in the atria. Furthermore, upregulation of atrial TASK-1 currents was described in patients suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF). We therefore hypothesized that TASK-1 channels represent an ideal target for antiarrhythmic therapy of AF. In the present study, we tested the antiarrhythmic effects of the high-affinity TASK-1 inhibitor A293 on cardioversion in a porcine model of paroxysmal AF. Methods and Results Heterologously expressed human and porcine TASK-1 channels are blocked by A293 to a similar extent. Patch clamp measurements from isolated human and porcine atrial cardiomyocytes showed comparable TASK-1 currents. Computational modeling was used to investigate the conditions under which A293 would be antiarrhythmic. German landrace pigs underwent electrophysiological studies under general anesthesia. Paroxysmal AF was induced by right atrial burst stimulation. After induction of AF episodes, intravenous administration of A293 restored sinus rhythm within cardioversion times of 177±63 seconds. Intravenous administration of A293 resulted in significant prolongation of the atrial effective refractory period, measured at cycle lengths of 300, 400 and 500 ms, whereas the surface ECG parameters and the ventricular effective refractory period lengths remained unchanged. Conclusions Pharmacological inhibition of atrial TASK-1 currents exerts antiarrhythmic effects in vivo as well as in silico<i>,</i> resulting in acute cardioversion of paroxysmal AF. Taken together, these experiments indicate the therapeutic potential of A293 for AF treatment. |
16,689 | Torsade de pointes in initiating hemodialysis: a case report. | Prolongation of the QT interval by antiarrhythmic drugs is the primary cause of torsade de pointes. Although there are previous reports of drug-induced torsade de pointes in patients undergoing hemodialysis, torsade de pointes caused by a sudden decrease of potassium levels in patients initiating hemodialysis has not been well described. A 70-year-old woman with recurrent bilateral gluteal abscesses visited the hospital for antibiotic treatment. Twenty-eight days after admission, atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rhythm was newly detected and was controlled with intravenous amiodarone treatment. After developing pulmonary edema that did not improve with diuretic treatment, she underwent emergency hemodialysis. During hemodialysis, serum potassium and magnesium levels decreased to 3.1 and 1.7 mg/dL, respectively. The electrocardiogram showed torsade de pointes. Amiodarone treatment was stopped, and magnesium sulfate was infused. A higher concentration of potassium dialysate was used in continuous renal replacement therapy. Torsade de pointes episodes halted, and QT interval prolongation normalized. We describe a case with a rare complication of torsade de pointes upon initiating hemodialysis in a patient with QT prolongation. When initiating hemodialysis, serum potassium levels as well as electrocardiograms should be monitored in patients with a prolonged QT interval. |
16,690 | Predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with left ventricular assist device. | A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is used to support patients with end-stage heart failure.</AbstractText>To examine the role of comorbidities and complications in predicting in-hospital mortality since the introduction of continuous flow (CF)-LVAD.</AbstractText>The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried from 2010 to 2014 using International Classification of Disease-9 code for LVAD among patients 18 years or older. The sample consisted of 2,359 patients (mean age = 55 ± 13.7 years, 76.8% men, 59.3% Caucasian).</AbstractText>Comparative analysis revealed mortality did not differ from 2010 to 2014 (p = 0.653). Increases in comorbidities of atrial fibrillation, acute kidney injury, mechanical ventilation, body mass index ≥ 25, cerebrovascular disease, and mild liver disease were evidenced over the 5-year period (p values ≤ 0.049). Multivariate analysis showed that significant predictors of mortality were comorbid hemodialysis (AOR = 7.62, 95% CI [4.78, 12.27]), cerebrovascular disease (AOR = 5.38, 95% CI [3.49, 8.26]), mechanical ventilation (AOR = 3.83, 95% CI [2.84, 5.18]), mild liver disease (AOR = 1.96, 95% CI [1.38, 2.76]), and acute kidney injury (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI [1.16, 2.28]). Predictive complications included disseminated intravascular coagulation (AOR = 6.41, 95% CI [2.79, 6.84]), sepsis (AOR = 4.37, 95% CI [2.79, 6.84]), septic shock (AOR = 3.9, 95% CI [2.11, 7.59]), and gastrointestinal bleed (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI [1.11, 2.93]).</AbstractText>CF-LVADs have not reduced mortality, possibly due to utilization in patients with comorbid conditions. Future trials are necessary for improved patient selection and reduced post-procedural complications.</AbstractText> |
16,691 | Impact of different selection policies on subcutaneous ICD implants and therapies. | Patients with existing or anticipated indications for cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT), bradycardia, or anti-tachycardia pacing should not be offered subcutaneous defibrillators (SQIDs) but it remains unclear how clinicians should predict future need for these therapies.</AbstractText>We applied three SQID selection policies to data collected retrospectively from transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (TV-ICD) implants: (a) approach A, SQID used in inherited channelopathies and idiopathic ventricular fibrillation only; (b) approach B, as above, plus all hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and grown-up congenital heart disease patients; (c) approach C, as above, plus primary and secondary prevention (for ventricular fibrillation only) of SCD in patients with QRS <150 ms. Approach C reflects current ESC and AHA/ACC/HRS guidelines.</AbstractText>338 of 951 patients with TV-ICD were considered for SQID after excluding 613 patients with contraindications. Approaches A, B, and C yielded 45 (4.7%), 89 (9.4%), and 338 (35.5%) patients suitable for SQID, respectively. Use of SQID resulted in more frequent ICD shocks compared to TV-ICD with approach C only (0.43 vs 0.23 per 1000 patient-days; P = .03). Rates of CRT upgrade were comparable across selection criteria (0, 0.03, and 0.07 per 1000 patient-days for approaches A, B, and C, respectively; P = NS). Risk of early mortality was higher when more liberal inclusion criteria were used (P = .003).</AbstractText>One in three patients receiving ICDs may be suitable for SQID under current ESC and AHA/ACC/HRS guidelines. This proportion is influenced significantly by the selection criteria used, and the criteria used by a physician should be informed by the estimated survival of the patient, risk of shocks for MVT, future pacing, and CRT requirements.</AbstractText>© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,692 | [Indications for His bundle and left bundle branch pacing]. | His bundle pacing (HBP) allows ventricular excitation through the entire cardiac conduction system, resulting in a better synchronicity and efficacy of contraction compared to myocardial pacing. Due to better, dedicated implantation tools and exact practical implantation recommendations, HBP has developed into a form of stimulation that can be successfully applied with reasonable time and effort in >90% of patients. The rate of lead dislodgement and threshold increase is similar to conventional pacemaker systems. Despite a rather weak data base and a paucity of randomized trials, HBS represents an alternative to conventional right or biventricular pacing in the following conditions: (1) high-degree atrioventricular (AV) block with expected ventricular pacing >20% of the time, (2) AV block 1st degree with long PQ (alone or in combination with intermittent 2nd to 3rd degree AV block or sick sinus syndrome), (3) AV node ablation due to refractory atrial fibrillation, and (4) upgrade in pacing-induced cardiomyopathy. Moreover, HBP may be useful in context with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Left bundle branch block below the level of His represents a limitation of HBP. Therefore, more recently left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) has been introduced to correct left bundle branch block. LBBP seems to be possible in a wider anatomic area and may be easier to implant. However, LBBP requires active screw-in of the lead deep into the ventricular septum. Experience with this new technique is limited, particularly regarding long-term performance. |
16,693 | Characterization of Fabry Disease cardiac involvement according to longitudinal strain, cardiometabolic exercise test, and T1 mapping. | In Anderson-Fabry disease (FD), we sought to evaluate relation between left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, longitudinal strain (LS), myocardial T1 mapping and cardiopulmonary exercise parameters, and their prognostic value in term of cardiovascular outcomes. In this prospective, observational, monocentric study called "FABRY-Image", we evaluated consecutive adult FD patients by echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. We investigated regional LS, the relations between LV hypertrophy, LS, T1 mapping, and VO2 peak and VE/VCO2, and the prediction of cardiovascular events during follow-up. From 2016 to 2019, we included 35 FD patients (44 ± 17 years, 40% male), that were compared with 20 controls. In FD patients, global, basal and mid-LV LS, as well as mean T1 were significantly altered compared to controls (p < 0.05) with relative apical LS sparing. LV wall thickness was particularly related to mean of basal LS (r =  - 0.73), to T1 (r =  - 0.48), and to VE/VCO2 (r = 0.45). Mean of basal LS was well related to myocardial T1 (r = 0.59). A good relation was observed between VO2 peak and global LS (r = 0.39) while VE/VCO2 slope was more related to maximal LV wall thickness (r = 0.45), and T1 (r =  - 0.61). During a median follow-up of 2.4 years, 6/31 patients presented de novo atrial fibrillation or stroke. In Cox univariate analyses, LV wall thickness, basal LS, T1 value, and VE/VCO2 were significantly predictive of occurrence of de novo atrial fibrillation or stroke (p < 0.05). Our study shows an apical LS sparing in FD patients as observed in amyloidosis, and a close relation between LV hypertrophy, LS, T1 mapping, and VE/VCO2 which are all associated to the occurrence of de novo atrial fibrillation or TIA/stroke during follow-up. These results need to be confirmed by future multicentric studies. |
16,694 | Prevalence of primary aldosteronism and association with cardiovascular complications in patients with resistant and refractory hypertension. | To assess the prevalence of primary aldosteronism and its association with cardiometabolic complications in patients with resistant and refractory hypertension.</AbstractText>One hundred and ten consecutive patients with true resistant hypertension [insufficient blood pressure control despite appropriate lifestyle measures and treatment with at least three classes of antihypertensive medication, including a diuretic] and without previous cardiovascular events were screened for secondary hypertension. Refractory hypertension was diagnosed in case of uncontrolled blood pressure despite the use of at least five antihypertensive drugs.</AbstractText>Primary aldosteronism was diagnosed in 32 cases (29.1%). The multivariate analysis showed that primary aldosteronism is a strong factor positively associated with left ventricular hypertrophy [odds ratio (OR) = 12.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.82-60.88; P < 0.001], microalbuminuria (OR = 3.67, 95% CI 1.44-9.78; P = 0.007), carotid intima-media thickness at least 0.9 mm (OR = 2.69, 95% CI 1.02-7.82; P = 0.037), aortic ectasia (OR = 4.08, 95% CI 1,18-15.04; P = 0.027) and atrial fibrillation (OR 8.80, 95% CI 1.53-73.98; P = 0.022). Moreover, primary aldosteronism was independently associated with the presence of at least one (OR = 8.60, 95% CI 1.73-69.88; P = 0.018) and at least two types of organ damage (OR = 3.08, 95% CI 1.19-8.24; P = 0.022). Thirteen patients (11.8%) were affected by refractory hypertension. This group was characterized by significantly higher values of carotid intima-media thickness, higher rate of aldosterone-producing adenoma and atrial fibrillation, compared with the other individuals with resistant hypertension.</AbstractText>The current study indicates that primary aldosteronism is a frequent cause of secondary hypertension and cardiovascular complications among patients with resistant and refractory hypertension, suggesting a crucial role of aldosterone in the pathogenesis of severe hypertensive phenotypes and cardiovascular disease.</AbstractText> |
16,695 | Limb Ischemic Postconditioning Alleviates Postcardiac Arrest Syndrome through the Inhibition of Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore Opening in a Porcine Model. | Previously, the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) was confirmed to play a key role in the pathophysiology of postcardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS). Recently, we demonstrated that limb ischemic postconditioning (LIpostC) alleviated cardiac and cerebral injuries after cardiac arrest and resuscitation. In this study, we investigated whether LIpostC would alleviate the severity of PCAS through inhibiting mPTP opening.</AbstractText>Twenty-four male domestic pigs weighing 37 ± 2 kg were randomly divided into three groups: control, LIpostC, and LIpostC+atractyloside (Atr, the mPTP opener). Atr (10 mg/kg) was intravenously injected 30 mins prior to the induction of cardiac arrest. The animals were subjected to 10 mins of untreated ventricular fibrillation and 5 mins of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Coincident with the beginning of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, LIpostC was induced by four cycles of 5 mins of limb ischemia and then 5 mins of reperfusion. The resuscitated animals were monitored for 4 hrs and observed for an additional 68 hrs.</AbstractText>After resuscitation, systemic inflammation and multiple organ injuries were observed in all resuscitated animals. However, postresuscitation systemic inflammation was significantly milder in the LIpostC group than in the control group. Myocardial, lung, and brain injuries after resuscitation were significantly improved in the LIpostC group compared to the control group. Nevertheless, pretreatment with Atr abolished all the protective effects induced by LIpostC.</AbstractText>LIpostC significantly alleviated the severity of PCAS, in which the protective mechanism was associated with the inhibition of mPTP opening.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Zhengquan Wang et al.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,696 | Effect of Shenfu Injection on Porcine Renal Function after Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. | To comprehensively evaluate the protective effect of Shenfu injection (SFI) on renal ischaemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) through neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and to explore effective monitoring of early renal injuries after CPR.</AbstractText>Thirty healthy minipigs were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham operation (SO) (n</i> = 6), control (n</i> = 12), and SFI (n</i> = 12). The SO group underwent only catheterization, whereas the control and SFI groups were subjected to program-controlled electrical stimulation to establish a cardiac arrest (CA) model due to ventricular fibrillation. After CPR, the return of spontaneous circulation was achieved. Each animal in the SFI group was intravenously injected with SFI after resuscitation. Haemodynamic parameters were monitored at baseline and 2, 6, 12, and 24 hr after CPR. At each time point, venous blood samples were collected for NGAL, creatinine, and ATPase screening.</AbstractText>After CA, the MAP, CPP, and CO of the animals in the control and SFI groups decreased significantly. However, at 6 hr after CPR, the MAP, CPP, and CO of the animals in the SFI group began to recover gradually; the differences between the control and SFI groups were significant (P</i> < 0.005). The renal damage immediately after CPR appeared to be significant in the pathological examinations. However, the degree of renal injury in the SFI group improved significantly, and the apoptosis index was also notably reduced. The blood and urine NGAL levels were clearly elevated after CPR. The greatest increase in NGAL was found in the control group, which was significantly different from that of the SFI group (P</i> < 0.001). SFI can significantly increase the ATPase activity of kidney tissues after CPR and improve abnormal caspase-3 protein expression.</AbstractText>SFI can effectively prevent acute kidney injuries caused by CPR through improving energy metabolism and inhibiting apoptosis.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2020 Shen Zhao et al.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,697 | Comparison of high-power and conventional-power radiofrequency energy deliveries in pulmonary vein isolation using unipolar signal modification as a local endpoint. | Negative component abolition of the unipolar signal (unipolar signal modification [USM]) reflects the lesion transmurality. The purpose of this study was to compare the procedural safety and outcome between high-power and conventional-power atrial radiofrequency applications during a pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using USM as a local endpoint.</AbstractText>High-power (50 W) and conventional-power (25-40 W) applications were compared among 120 consecutive patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who underwent a USM-guided PVI. The first 60 patients were treated with conventional-power (CP) group and last 60 with high-power (HP) group. The atrial radiofrequency applications lasted for 5 to 10 seconds (CP group) or 3 to 5 seconds (HP group) after the USM. All procedures were performed using 3D mapping systems with image integration and esophageal temperature monitoring. The baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. The HP group had fewer acute PV reconnections (62% vs 78%; P = .046) and a reduced procedure time (119.3 ± 28.1 vs 140.1 ± 51.2 minutes; P = .04). Freedom from recurrence after a single ablation procedure without any antiarrhythmic drugs was higher in the HP group than CP group (88.3% vs 73.3% at 12-months after the procedure, log-rank; P = .0423). There were no major complications that required any intervention.</AbstractText>The high-power PVI guided by USM decreased the procedural time and may improve the procedural outcomes without compromising the safety.</AbstractText>© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.</CopyrightInformation> |
16,698 | His-Purkinje conduction system pacing and atrioventricular node ablation. | His-Purkinje conduction system pacing (HPCSP) in the form of His bundle pacing and left bundle branch pacing allows normal ventricular activation, thereby preventing the adverse consequences of right ventricular pacing. One potential area where HPCSP could be used is in the field of atrioventricular (AV) node ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation refractory to medical therapy and/or catheter ablation. His bundle pacing has been established for several years, with centres from North America, Europe and China publishing their experience. The differing patterns of His bundle capture are clearly described with established guidance as to how to implant such systems. Left bundle branch pacing has only recently been reported, but there are several advantages with better pacing parameters and lower risk of threshold change after AV node ablation. Six studies have been identified in the literature which describe the experience of His bundle pacing in patients requiring AV node ablation. Overall the results are positive and favour this new technique; however, they are limited by low numbers of patients and non-randomised study design. An observational study was recently published demonstrating better outcomes with left bundle branch pacing in a small number of patients with left ventricular dysfunction and atrial fibrillation that underwent AV node ablation. HPCSP has the potential to be the primary pacing modality in patients with atrial fibrillation requiring AV node ablation. However, it is essential that this is confirmed in large randomised clinical trials. |
16,699 | Bi-Level ventilation decreases pulmonary shunt and modulates neuroinflammation in a cardiopulmonary resuscitation model. | Optimal ventilation strategies during cardiopulmonary resuscitation are still heavily debated and poorly understood. So far, no convincing evidence could be presented in favour of outcome relevance and necessity of specific ventilation patterns. In recent years, alternative models to the guideline-based intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) have been proposed. In this randomized controlled trial, we evaluated a bi-level ventilation approach in a porcine model to assess possible physiological advantages for the pulmonary system as well as resulting changes in neuroinflammation compared to standard measures.</AbstractText>Sixteen male German landrace pigs were anesthetized and instrumented with arterial and venous catheters. Ventricular fibrillation was induced and the animals were left untreated and without ventilation for 4 minutes. After randomization, the animals were assigned to either the guideline-based group (IPPV, tidal volume 8-10 ml/kg, respiratory rate 10/min, Fi</sub>O2</sub>1.0) or the bi-level group (inspiratory pressure levels 15-17 cmH2</sub>O/5cmH2</sub>O, respiratory rate 10/min, Fi</sub>O2</sub>1.0). Mechanical chest compressions and interventional ventilation were initiated and after 5 minutes, blood samples, including ventilation/perfusion measurements via multiple inert gas elimination technique, were taken. After 8 minutes, advanced life support including adrenaline administration and defibrillations were started for up to 4 cycles. Animals achieving ROSC were monitored for 6 hours and lungs and brain tissue were harvested for further analyses.</AbstractText>Five of the IPPV and four of the bi-level animals achieved ROSC. While there were no significant differences in gas exchange or hemodynamic values, bi-level treated animals showed less pulmonary shunt directly after ROSC and a tendency to lower inspiratory pressures during CPR. Additionally, cytokine expression of tumour necrosis factor alpha was significantly reduced in hippocampal tissue compared to IPPV animals.</AbstractText>Bi-level ventilation with a constant positive end expiratory pressure and pressure-controlled ventilation is not inferior in terms of oxygenation and decarboxylation when compared to guideline-based IPPV ventilation. Additionally, bi-level ventilation showed signs for a potentially ameliorated neurological outcome as well as less pulmonary shunt following experimental resuscitation. Given the restrictions of the animal model, these advantages should be further examined.</AbstractText>©2020 Ruemmler et al.</CopyrightInformation> |
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